
IR NO. 12. 




CAMDEN, N. Y 




'RICt FIFTY CENTS. 



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:opyrig:hted by "Grip", 1902. 



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"GRIP'S" 



Historical Souvenir of Camden, ^. V. 



THE LIBI»»HV OF 

CONGRESS, 
Two Co*>.€s Receive* 

AUG. 8 t902 

(\ CnwmtMT ewTdv 

Cl.*9S«^ XXc. No, 
i C] -) -I- 1^ 

copr A. 



'GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 







Skianer, PLioto 



MAIN STHEET, LOCKING SOUTH FKOM PKESBYTERIAN CHCJRCH. 



>*^AMDEN, the Queen Village of Central 
fl Si. New York, situated at the junction of the 

Si^ three principal north and sovith raih'oad 
systems of the state, has proven the natural 
advantages which it possesses by the steady and 
healthful growth which has distinguished it in 
later years, as well as by the commercial standing- 
it has attained. In the county of Oneida which 
ranks second for wealth, enterprise and product- 
iveness, with the central tier counties, Camden is 



the largest of its numerous villages. Its location 
is within an hour's ride of the four chief cities of 
Central New York — Syracuse, Utica, Watertown 
and Oswego. Within the radius of fifty miles are 
comprised all of the towns and cities that contrib- 
ute to the wealth of this great agricultural section 
of the state. As is shown on the map accompany- 
ing this work, Camden is equidistant from the 
four cardinal points between which great streams 
of travel are constantlv moving: Lake Ontario to 




yicinner. Photo. 



MAIN STREET, LOOKING NORTH PROM POST OFFICE. 



'GRIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Huested, Photo. DIRECTORS OF THE BOARD OF TRADE. 

C. .J. Williams, Second Vice-President. E. N. Hamnuind, Secretarv. 

W. T. Stoddard, First Vice-President. I. D. West, President. A. W. Abbott Treasurer. 

the nortli-west, the Adirondacks to the north-east, lages over two hundred samples of chairs are 

Utica to the south-east and Syractise to the 

southwest. 

Hub of Trade. — Its local field of trade 
includes a score of growing villages and 
hamlets in the counties of Oneida, Oswego, 
Jefferson and Lewis, with which it is con- 
nected by rail and highway. 

Roads cutting through the adjacent agri- 
cultui'al districts, radiating from Camden 
like spokes from the hub of a wheel, bring 
thousands of dollars to the coffers of its 
merchants every year. 

All kinds of produce are raised l)y the 
farmers who do their trading at Camden. 
Duiing the past ten years the postoftice 
business has been nearly doubled, showing 
that with the steady advance of population 
and wealth Camden is constantly extending 
its circle of trade. 

Furniture Factories. — Camden's great- 
est bulk of wealth is invested in manufactur- 
ing which in comparatively a few years has 
advanced the village to its present high 
position as an industrial center. 

The chief prodttction is furniture, princi- 
pally chairs, which is manufactured in 
.several factories in Camden and two suburban 
viUages, West Camden and McConnellsviUe. 
All grades, including largely the best class 
•of goods, are produced and shipjjed to all 
sections of the country, and are also quite ex- 
tensively exported. From the three vil- 




Ahbott, CliicajfO, Photci. 

SECOND STREET, SHADE AND WALK. 



'GRIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 
1, Chas. J. Williams, President; 3, Warren E. Stone, 3, J: 
Fish, o, Albert E. Gunther, 6, Asa B. LaClere. 

semi-annually placed in the exhibitions at Grand 
Rapids, Mich., and New York city. There they 
are sold on orders taken from dealers who are 
present from all sections of the states. The fac- 
tories also sell their goods direct to the dealer 
through traveling salesmen. 

Centre of Knit Goods. — The greatest knit 
goods industry of the central part of the state had 
its beginning in this village, where is located the 
parent factory of a cordon of mUls stretching 
across Central New York, chief of which is the 
factory in Camden, the village which is the home 
of the jirincipal owner of them all. In this factory 
is manufactured the superior grade of women's 
and children's underwear. 

The Camden Water Wheel is another im- 
portant article of producti(m \\hith has equallv a 
high standing among 
purchasers all over the 
country and which is 
made for the markets 
both home and abroad. 

Other Products. - 

Camden also produces 
very largely a sectional 
bookcase, made after a 
sjjecial pattern which 
ranks among the liest. 

There are also large 
annual productions ot 
wagons and sleighs, novel- 
ties made out of wood 
and sold extensively in 
New York, and a paper 
manufactured especially 
for use on typewriters 
and in telephone booths 
which is cut into all sizes 



and put up in rolls like 
ribbon. Machinery of the 
finer pattern, novelties in 
wood, a special fancy 
article of footwear and 
packing boxes of all sizes 
are among7the other pro- 
ductions of Camden 
factories. 

Altogether hundreds 
of people find employ- 
ment in that and its 
suburban villages, who, 
many of them, have 
pleasant homes and in- 
teresting families and are 
living well and enjoying 
themselves. 

Corn Canning^. — 

Camden is also the .seat of 
the corn canning indus- 
try. In fact it is the pio- 
neer town of the state in 
The soil for miles around 
for raising sweet com 
which for tenderness and flavor is superior to any 
other growth. The crops from hundreds of acres 
are brought to the village and then canned for 
shipment to home and foreign markets. 

Agricultural productions besides corn are raised 
thereabouts and shipped extensively from Cam- 
den. Cheese is an important staple, as are also 
potatoes and veal. Dairying is also carried on, 
considerable quantities of milk being shij^ped 
daily. Strawberries of the better quahty have 
been found to yield abundantly and the agricul- 
turalists are going into that line quite largely. 
There are also large sugar orchards and the Cam- 
den maple syrup has become recognized as ^ 
piinie article which commands a large market. 



1901. 

imes W. Stark, i, E. W. 

that line of production, 
is especially favorable 




BOARD OF HEALTH, IfiOI. 
1, .James Grossart, Presirlent; 3, Dr. C. W. Shaver, Health Officer; 3, O. A. Mauzer 
Secretary; 4, James D. Biirrill. 



"GEIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




MAIN 8TREBT WATER POWEK DAM. 

Has Competing Railroads. — Camden's ship- 
ping facilities together with its siiecial advantages 
lor water power has much to do with attracting 
mannfactui'ers. But more than all its business men 
are ever awake to the possibilities of a new enter- 
prise and tlu-ough their organization, the Board of 
Trade, are ready to offer inducements to legiti- 
mate entei-prise which is seeking a favorable point 
in which to locate and which has the backing and 
substantial standing essential for a successful man- 
ufacturing jjlaut. 

The three competing 
railroad systems over 
■which Camden's products 
may be shipped to the 
chief maikets of the 
country are the E.W. & O. 
(New York Central&Hud- 
son E. EE. lessee), the 
Lehigh VaUey and the 
New York Ontario&West- 
em. "WhUe the latter 
does not touch the village 
proper, connections can 
be made with it by a short 
haul. 

The E. W. & O., be- 
sides its advantage as a 
shiioping line is, under 
the management of the 
New York Central, becom- 
ing a trunk line for pas- 
senger travel to the St. 
Xiawi'ence river and other 



northern resoi-ts. The Lehigh Valley gives 
the Camden resident a direct means of 
reaching not only New York, but Washing- 
ton. Philadelphia and other southern and 
Pennsylvania points, and also brings coal 
here direct from the mines. 

A train can be taken for either Syracuse, 
Utica or Watertown in the morning and re- 
turn at night. Fast trains with sleeping 
cars afford the Camdenite means for getting 
to New York and back after having all day 
to do business there, wdth an absence of 
only one night. 

"Water Povrer .— For manufacturing pui'" 
poses few towns in the state boast of as 
extensive water i^ower i^rivileges, developed 
and undeveloped. 

Two consequential streams with an abun- 
dant flow of water summer and winter pass 
through and in fact unite in the corporation 
limits. A thii-d stream, not so large, flows 
nearby; and on either of the three. Mad 
Eiver, Fish Creek or Cobb Brook, there is 
a favorable head for generating sufficient 
power to drive any ordinary factory 
machinery; part of which is developed and 
in use and a great deal of which only needs 
developing at a comparatively moderate expense 
to serve the j)uri50se of any plant. 

Business Men Organize. The Camden Boai'd 
of Trade is the best evidence of the enterprise and 
push of the men who are making that village one 
of the leading and most widely Imown in the state. 
Only a year ago they organized, taking in on the 
payment of a nominal membership fee, nearly 
every man doing business in the village. The as- 
sociation was incorporated, articles being legally 




MliXiro .'^TllEET WATER POWER DAM. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



filed and through the activity of the officers and 
directors it has accomplished great results, having 
seoiu'ed a considerable investment in manufactur- 
ing plants and consequently a large increase in 
property valuations due to the influx of ^vorking 
Ijeoijle looking for homes, as "well as in the pro- 
ductive capacity and the general business im- 
provement of the community. 

Queenly Village. — But the commercial and 
Inisiness supremacy of Camden with its 2,500 
population is by no means its only attraction. It 
is a remarkably pretty place, laid out as it is on 
level ground with just sufficient elevation above 
the surrounding country for a perfect di'ainage, 
and with its wide, straight streets and avenues, its 



organization for mutual literary and social bene- 
fit as the several societies represented in this work 
bear witness. They are also of one mind as re- 
gards the improvement of their beautiful village. 
It was due to Forest Park Imjirovement society of 
Camden, whose membership consists of the ladies 
of the village, that Forest Park, a very jDretty 
tract of woodland with small and large streams 
flowing through it, lying in the outsku'ts of the 
village and consisting of over a hundred acres, 
was secured as a permanent pleasure ground and 
improved so that the village might possess such a 
park as would be a credit to any lai'ge city — a park 
which for natural lieauty with its ojjen and wooded 
scenery, trout streams, rustic ijavdion, river views 




Skinner, Photo. CAMDEN STREET VIEWS 

Clnu-ch Street West from Fifth Street Foiirtli Street Soutb from Church Street 

Upper Main Street looking- North Mexico Street east from Masonic Avenue 

Second Street North from Union Street Lower Third Street looking North 



thoroughly graded roadways and cement wallis, 
its profusion of foliage, vistas of shade trees and 
finely kept lawns and lu'etty residences; and its 
substantially constructed business places fronting 
on a well macadamized street together mth its 
commodious and ornamental churches, handsome 
opera house, free public library, excellent schools 
comprising the higher grades and its attractive 
public sipiare and ])articularly its extensive park. 
Enterprising Women. — Very few villages of 
its size offer the new comer better social advan- 
tages. The women of Camden are as a rule ad- 
mii'able hostesses and are particularly inclined to 



and two and a half miles of drives is unparalleled 
by any park in a town the size of Camden — at 
least in this state — and is unexcelled in any city. 

The latlies are also entitled to the credit of hav- 
ing founded and largely sttpplied the ptrbUc lib- 
rary which is fiu'nished with about 2,500 volumes 
of the latest and best works of all kinds and is 
open at regular hours for every resident of the 
village and vicinity. 

The Camden opera house is another monument 
to the social advancement of the village, erected 
by the business men of the town who incorporated 
an association for that purjjose. It is a three story 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



brick structure, modem in its exterior and interior 

architectural arrangemeuts, -witli two large stores 
on the ground floor, a club room and offices occu- 
pying the front of the second floor and lodge 
rooms in the third story. 

Remarkable Water Supply.— The water 
system of the village is a pulilic convenience of 
which Camden rightly has reason to boast. Its 



evidence of diminishing the flow of water. These 
springs are so numerous that the ground is an un- 
broken tract of wet soil. Stranger than all else is 
the fact that the springs are tui'ned into the pipes 
way below the surface of the ground, eo that the 
water actually reaches the consumer in his house 
or i^lace of business dii-ectly from the bowels of 
the earth. Some of the spruigs are diverted into 




Skinner, Photo. CAMDEN STREET VIEWS 

Church Street, East I'rom Main Street Oswego Street, lookina East 

Miner Avenue, East from Second Street Second Street, North from Miner Avenue 

Fifth Street, North from Miner Avenue Union Street, West from Fourth Street 

Railroad Street, North Irom Liberty Street Liberty Street, East from Railroad Street 



soiu'ce is a bed of .springs from which the water 
flows directly to the consumer. Any stranger 
visiting Camden who fails to see this remarkable 
fountain head of water misses a rare sight. In 
the midst of a group of hiUs and scattered over 
several acres are countless springs all of which 
bubble from the ground without any appreciable 



covered reservoii's from which they are piped to the 
village three miles distant with a' fall of 175 feet. 
As fast as additional i)ipe lines are laid connections 
are made with new springs, there apparently be- 
ing many which have not been tapped containing 
an immeasttrable store of the purest sisring water 
that the earth aflbrds. 



10 



'GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




THE WATER BOAED. 

J. G. Dorrance, President. 

George W. Dana. A. H. Maloney, Secretary and Treasurer. 

That the village found such a rare and unitsual 
source of water available for use is a most curious 
tact; and that it took advantage of it is a testi- 
monial of the foresight and wisdom of the pro- 
moters of its water system. 

In a liasin several feet below the springs, which 
is dammed with solid masonry and earth is a nat- 
ural reservoir' several acres in extent fed by a 
stream of deep, clear water which also receives 
the waste from the sijrings. This reservoir- is so 
piped into the main line leading to the village that 
when an unusu;rl quantity of water is being di'awn 
from the hydrants such as in case of fire the reser- 
voir suppUes the extra amount. The system was 
constnrcted in 1886 at a cost of $10,000 the money 
being raised by a bond issue. Extensions have 
since brought the cost up to .$60,000, but the plant 
is paying and has not been a tax on the commun- 
ity. A board of three water commissioners has 
control of it. The village 
is supi^lied with fifty 
hydi'ants and with the 
water head that is obtain- 
ed the firemen are enabled 
to throw a stream 100 feet 
high. The gi'ound entu-e- 
ly enclosing the springs 
and reservoir, for the pur- 
pose of protecting the 
supply from contamina- 
tion, is included in the 
property owned l)y the 
village. 

Camden people take 
25ride in theh fire depart- 
ment, which consists of 
two hose and a hook and 
ladder company. Since 
its organization was fin- 
ally projected and the 
village had obtained its 
present supply of hose 
together with the pre- Chapin, Photo. 



sent water system there has been no fire of 
any consequence. 

Large Trade Circle.— The business men 
of Camden get a trade coming to the village 
from counti-y included in a radius of twenty 
miles. They are prosperous and public 
spirited and are prompt to respond to any 
demand that is made in the name of charity 
or enterprise. The character of the schools, 
the prosperity of the churches, the growth 
of the village, the liberahty shown in the 
construction of the residences and the care 
of private grounds are the best proofs of the 
above statement. 

The village is Ughted by electric lights 
and great pride is taken in keeping the san- 
itary conditions of the community at their 
best. Camden, like all other enterprising 
villages up to date, has a prosperous news- 
jiaper, a conservative national liauk and a 
local telephone exchange as well as con- 
nections in all du-ections liy long distance 
telephone. 

Trout and Bass Streams. — Many of 
the Camden people are sjiortsmen in the 
sense that they indulge much of their spare 
time in the chase for game, hunting diu'ing 
the season for the bu-ds and deer that are 
killed in the fields and woods of Northern 
New York and fishing in the many streams 
which afford a plentiful supjaly of brook trout 
and black bass in the town of Camden and 
vicinity. While this work was being compiled 
about 60 business men organized a sportsmen's 
club which has been incorporated and the object 
of which is to jn-event depredations. During the 
past few years by co-operative individual effort 
several of the streams, some of them within the 
corporation hmits have lieen slocked with thou- 
sands of trout. 

Camden is one of the few villages that has been 
richly endowed by the bountiful hand of nature 
with her best gifts. The people are happy as a 
consequence especially as there is comparatively 
little poverty in the community. Some of the 
best known of Oneida's sons and daughters who 
have scattered to the various piarts of the earth are 
natives of Camdem, as may be seen by glancing at 
a list i^ublished elsewhere. 




MAD lUVEll VALLEY. 



'GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



H 



The Camden Public Library. — In Novem- 
bei- of 1890, after having given the subject of a 
public library much thought, Mrs. W. J. Frisbie 
asked a few ladies to her home and told them of 
the purpose of the meeting, explaining how it 
seemed possible to obtain a library for the use of 
the large number of students and readers who then 
had no access to the necessary books. It seemed 
best to call a public meeting and accordingly Mrs. 
Frisliie wrote the following notice which aijjjeared 
in the Advance-Journal, issue of Dec 4, 1890: "A 
Good Move. — Camden has no ]3ublic library, and 
that possessed by the school is an insignificant 
affair Some of our energetic ladies are intei'ested 
in the matter and projiose organizing an associ- 
ation with this object in view — the establishment 
of a village librai-y. Every lady in Camden in- 



dent; Mrs. W. T. Stevens, first vice president; 
Mrs. Jane L. Williams, second vice president; 
Miss Tessie M. Dm-r, secretary; Mrs. M. P. Os- 
borne, treasui'er. Thus the Camden Library As- 
sociation became an assurance. The fee for mem- 
bership was to be one dollar a year, and in this 
way the first money was raised. Mrs. Frisbie 
contributed the first books, thii'teen in number, 
Jan 12, 1891. From time to time others contrib- 
uted books. A book social also was held and Mr. 
W. C. Stone gave eighty volumes from his loan 
library. On Aug. 1, 1891, the association having 
in its possession 218 volumes, a room was opened 
to the public in B. A. Curtiss' block. Each mem- 
ber acted as librarian for two weeks. At the end 
of the first year the number of volumes had in- 
creased to 54:9. The second year IMrs. W. J. Fris- 
bie served as j^resident, and at the end of this year 




A. H. Maloney, Pboto. CAMDEN'S SOUKCES OF WATER SUPPLY. 

Reserve Reservoir. Lower Spring House. 

Fountain Head (Hidilen Spriii;; under the Roots of Trees.) 
Upper Spring House. Dam (lower end of l{eservoir.) 



terested in the project is requested to meet at the 
residence of Mrs. W. T. Stevens on Miner avenue, 
Saturday, Dec. G, at 2 :30 o'clock, at which time, 
if it seems advisable, an organization will be 
effected. There is no necessity for enumerating 
the benefits derivable from a well stocked, well 
selected lil)rarv. We all know what they are. 
Should the ladies succeed in their endeavor and 
make a good lieginning, which we aie confident 
they win if they receive a reasonalile amount of 
encotii'agement, why wouldn't it be a good idea 
for the gentlemen of the town to furnish rooms, or 
better yet, a building to contain it?" 

There was a good attendance in resj5on.se to this 
call, about forty ladies being present. Officers 
were elected as follows; Mrs. E. T. Pike, presi- 



there was deposited to the credit of the association 
as a result of the two years' work, $1,137.78. Mrs. 
E. H. Conant was jiresident the thii'd year. Mrs. 
C. J. Bacon was elected president, Jan. 1, 1894. 
In February a commodious room in the Opera 
House Block was taken by the association whose 
willing hands and open hearts furnished the 
library more attractively than public hlirai'ies 
usually are. In March of the same year the 
library was declared free to the jjublic. With the 
increasing circ\ilation came the demand for a per- 
manent librarian, and August 1, 1894, Mrs. E. C. 
Case was appointed, she .serving nearly three 
years. To her faithful and conscientious lalior 
much of the success of the library is due. Mrs. 
T. A. Farnsworth was chosen jiresident for 1895, 



12 



'GRIP'S" HI8T0BI0AL SOUVENIR OF CABIDEN. 




Huested, Photo. FORMER PRESIDENTS OF THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 

l',*^''?A Elzabevh T. Pike, ISSO-'iK; 3, Mre. W. J. Fi-lsbie, 'Hl-'Sa; 3, Mrs. E. H. Couant. ■S3-'93; 4, Mrs. C J Bacon 'dS-'m- 

17; 7, Mrs. E. Edic, ■97-'S8; 8, Mrs. S. S. Tipple, 'SIS-'r)9;' 9, Mrs.' 



■5, Mrs. T. A. Farnsworth, '94-'9.5; li, Mrs. D. G. Dorrance 
C. A. Phelps, '99-1900; 10, Mrs. E. C. Case, 1900-'91. 



and that year marked another stride in the growtli 
of the association. Through the generosity of the 
townsi^eople, a large room in the new Town Hall 
was oSered the association free of charge. It was 
thankfully accepted and in December, 1895, the 
library was moved into the beautiful room which 
it still occupies. Mrs. J. G. Dorrance, Mrs. E. 
Edic, Mrs. S. E. Tipple, Mrs C. A. Phelps and 



Mrs. E C. Case w-ere succeeding presidents. Mrs. 
W. J. Frisbie is holding the ol!ice now for the 
second time. Prom .$100 to .$200 worth of books 
have been added each year during the past six 
years. The library now contains over 2,100 vol- 
iimes with an average weekly circidation of about 
300 volumes and is ojaen to the public. Miss 
Annie More is the very efficient librarian working 




'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



13 




Huested, Photo. ENTBEPEISB HOSE CO., NO. 2, C. F. D. 

1, Clarence Mose, Foreman; 3, H. C. Philpot, Seoretarv; 3, A. G. Parke, Treasurer— Second Assistant Enginocri 
C. F. D.; i, Charles Snow, 5, W. B. Smith, (i, Otis Fuller, ", Georg-e Moses, 8, Andrew Smith 9, William Pond, 10, Clinton 
Woodhouse, 11, Fred Schott, 12, Harvev Moses, 13, Freeman Sohott, 14, Peter Beebe, 15, H. M. Parke. 



for tlie libraiy interests in every -way and greatly 
aiding in its success. We liave a goodly sum at 
interest for a library building, or if some one 
should give us a building the fund would materi- 
ally aid in other imjjortant ways. One incident 
of its early career shows the zeal displayed by the 
ladies in behalf of the library, who, in order-to 
wipe out a deficiency, got together and dividilig 



the work between them, made and by personal 
soHcitation sold, enough confections to raise the 
necessary amount. 

The Improvement Society was organized at 
a meeting held at the home of the president, Mrs. 
W. J. Erisbie, in June, 1892. The first coUection, 
made by caUing on every woman and girl in town, 
amounted to .$146, which was paid over to the 




Huested, Photo. RESCUE H. & L. CO., C. F. D, 

1, Charles Tyler, Foreman; 3, Albert Woods, First Assistant; 3, Charles Shaw, Second Assistant; 1, Harry Loomis, 
Secretary; 5, j. K. Littler, Treasurer; 6, Henry Ruscher, 7, W. McGillis, 8, A. Percival, !l, Spencer Matteson, 10, Emory 
Hanna, 11, T. J. Lowry, 12, MyerWinkelstein, 13, Albert Barnes, li, Ora Vandawalker, 1.5, Dc.xter Hubbard. 16, Fred 
Boehm, 17, H. Fowser. 



14 



"GRIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



Cemetery association to assist in constructing the 
first drive made in Forest Park. In the summer 
of 1893 the ladies instigated a "bee" calling upon 
all male residents of the village to contribute a 
day's work in Forest Park or one doUar. This 
met with a hearty response. The ladies gave the 
laborers an oiit-of doors dinner. The past year 
the Improvement society added more than".S15 
to its treasury which was nearly all used ifor 
other Forest Park improvements. In AprU, 1891, 
by means of a minstrel entertainment of home 
talent given at the opera house .$126 was raised. 
A balance left from one of the season's lecture 



furtherance of more improvements. The Village 
and Park Improvement society has an unlimited 
membership and no membership fees. It is com- 
posed of all the ladies in town who are interested 
in its imj^rovement. The present officers of the 
society are: President, Mrs. Elizabeth T. Pike; 
Vice ir'resideut, Mrs. Ella M. Conant; Secretary, 
Mrs. E. H. Conant; Treasurer, Mrs. Susan B. 
Cromfl-ell. 

Camden Opera House. — On November 9, 
1892, twenty -two of the leading citizens of Cam- 
den organized an Opera House Co., with Eugene 




Borrower] Cut. 
THE TOWN HALL, PUBLEC LIBRARY AND FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS 



courses was divided between the Library and the 
Improvement society, the latter organization receiv- 
ing about $65. The amount on hand was found 
to be iJilOG, which paid for putting the water into 
Forest Park and building a bridge over Fish creek 
on the foot path to the park. I'he organization 
also built the pavilion in Forest Park which is so 
much ajipreciated by i:iicuic parties. The baud 
stand in the vihage itiiTk, built in 189.5, was also 
the work of the ladies. In 1900 between $30 and 
•iflO was expended m Forest Park for improve- 
ments in and around the pavilion. The organiza- 
tion still has a balance in its treasurv for the 



H. Conant as president, Walter C. Stone secretary, 
John G. Dorrauce treasurer and Eugene H. Co- 
nant, James H. Cxamble, John G. Dorrance, Wil- 
lard J. Frisbie, Byron A. Curtiss, David J. Crim- 
mins and Walter C. Stone, directors. The site, 
.51x135 feet, was purchased of Penfield & Stone 
in January, 1893. The plans for the Imildiug, 
drawn by Leon H. Lampert & Sons of Rochester, 
were accepted and the contract was awarded to 
Raymond Bros, of this viUage, ground being 
broken about the first of June. The building is 
of brick, three stories high, the front being of 
the Romanesque style of architecture in pressed 



"GRIP'S" HISTOKICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



15 




MAIN STREET BRIDGE. 

brick trimmed with Loug Meadow brownstone 
and terra cotta. It has a grand entrance twelve 
feet wide, a lobby 15 by 25 feet with interior en- 
trance through double doors and two sejjarate 
exits each six feet wide. From every point in the 
aiiditorinm, which is 50x70 feet, an excellent view 
can be had of the entire stage. Thei-e are 410 
folding opera chairs and two jirivate boxes, the 
latter richly draped with silk and Chenille cur- 
tains. The box and gallery ornamentations con- 
sist of garlands, medalion heads, scroll work, etc., 
in stereo-relief work. Bnft', salmon, cream and 
terra cotta are the prevailing colors. The top of 
the orchestra raUs and box rails are covered 
with old gold plush. The stage is 50 feet deep 
and o'd feet wide, with a proscenium arch 20x35 
feet and will accommodate almost any scenery de- 
su'ed by the companies playing in Camden, be- 
sides the many fine stage settings owned by the 
Opera House Co. The drop curtain is a scene in 
Rome, Italy; abridge crossing the river Tiber, 
near the Castle of St. Angelo with St. Peters and 
the Vatican in the dis- 
tance. The orchestra pit 
is large enough to accom- 
modate 16orl8 musicians. 
There are eight large 
dressing rooms and the 
entire house is lighted by 
electricity. The oi^era 
house was opened to the 
public Thursday night, 
January 18, 1894, with 
the Swedish play Ole 01- 
sen. The original stock- 
holders of theopera house 
were: E. H. Conaut, W. 
T. Stevens, B. A. Curtiss, 
Gai-dner & Dana, Knitting 
Co., A. Ct. Eobson, James 
H. Gamble, G. F. Conant, 
A. H. Malonev, A. C. 
Woodruff, C. M. Tibbits, 
Elizabeth T. Pike, W. C. 
Stone, Penfield & Stone, 
Harold T. Conant, D. J. 
Crimmins, E. Edio, W. 



C. Stoddard, Library- 
Association of Camden, 
E. A. Harvey, J. G. Dor- 
rance, Daniel Crimmins. 
W. C. Stone is the resi- 
dent manager represent- 
ing the lessees who are 
out-of-town parties. Smce 
the opening of the opera 
house the people of Cam- 
den have had rare oj^por- 
tunities of hearing many 
fine theatrical companies, 
as well as fine musical 
Ijrograms. It is conceded 
by professionals who 
come here to be a gem 
in its way and to far sur- 
pass amusement halls in 
many larger places. 

Forest Park. — It is 
rarely that a village is so 
fortunate as to have a 
tract of woodland — a park 
— within a few moments 
walk or drive, set apart 
for the pleasure of its citizens. Camden is highly 
favored in this regard. The resort, now known as 
Forest Park, had formerly been Raymond's woods, 
it having then been owned by the late Mr. Alva 
Raymond. Farther back in the history of our 
town a part of what is now our much admii-ed 
park belonged to the Ransom estate and the re- 
mainder to the late Mr. Daniel Parke, both of 
whom were pioneers in Camden's development. 
There were sixty -two acres in the first jnu'chase 
made in 1891 and forty in the second made in 1897, 
a total of one hundred and two acres. The 
amount i>aid for the whole was about twenty-four 
hundred dollars. The first piece of property was 
negotiated and paid for by the officers of the 
Cemetery association who were as follows: Presi- 
dent, Job. Batchelor; Secretary, Geo. H. Smith; 
Treasui-er, A. G. Wood: Trustees, J. G. Dorrance 
and H. G. DuBois. Minstrel performances, pic- 
nics, lecture courses, subscription lists, etc., are 
among the many devices that helped them raise 



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«il^ ■'■-.■:;. V ..r,J»-.7»i7jif,;; V^i., - .u 



MEXICO STREET BRIDGE. 



16 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



known as "The Pines. 



Of 




:Skinner, Photo. 



THE (JAMDEN OPERA HOTSE. 



eiglit hundred dollars, wliioli paid for a drive, 
running water, pavilion, tables, seats, clearing out 
stumps, bridging streams and other improve- 
ments. It is due to Mr. Andres Meeker that 
great praise be given for the judicious, wise use of 
the money put into the hands of the association 
for park uses, and expended under his personal 
dii'ection, exhibiting, as he did, good taste in lay- 
ing oiit the drives and walks and in taking advan- 
tage of nature's bountiful 
resources for enhancing 
the pictiu-esqueness of 
the landscape as well as 
in otherwise beautifying 
the place. The sum of 
one thousand doUars was 
given for a drive skirting 
the forty acre tract, by 
the Hon. P. C. Costello 
of New York, an old resi- 
dent of Camden, which 
is called "Costello Road." 
Altogether there are two 
and one-half miles of de- 
lightful drives in our 
park. The first drive, 
named "Woodland Ave- 
nue," and circling the 
sixty acre tract, was 
built liy money fur- 
nished by the ladies. 
Beech, maple, hemlock, 
birch, S23ruce, oak and 
pine timber are within 
its boundaries, but per- 
haps the choicest portion 
of the resort is along the 
Costello Road thi'ough a 
gi'owth of evergreen 



course the great charm of For- 
est Park is the spring and 
summer season when the banks 
along the drive approaching 
the park are Aihite with bloom 
and the entii'e area is carjjeted 
with flowers and ferns in their 
season. Birds of many var- 
ieties make the green vaulted 
bowers echo and resound with 
"songs in many keys. " Little 
streamlets of cold spring water, 
stocked with trout, babble and 
sing the joys of existence, cheer- 
ing the visitor as he rides or 
saunters amid its haunts of 
beauty. The streams between 
which the village is situ.ated. 
Mad River and Fish Creek, form 
a junction within its shady bow- 
ers, presenting a pretty picture 
as they wind and turn, theii' 
ripples glinting in the .sunhght. 
Charm after charm greets the 
eye of the visitor as he wanders 
through the labyrinths of this 
magnificent park, which is 
largely as nature formed it. 

League-of Iroquois. — Cam- 
den is also historic ground. It 
is the home of the most dis- 
tinguished of the Iroquois 
tribes, the Oneidas. The legend of Hiawatha 
(ascribed to Al.iraham C. Fort, an Onondaga 
Indian and a graduate of Geneva college and 
immortalized in verse by Longfellow) is the 
traditional beginning of the Iroquois, the 
French name for the league of the six nations 
whose .strongholds and hunting grounds — native 
fastness — comprised the whole of the great heart 
of New York state including Oneida county. 




A. H. Maloucv. Photo. 

OPERA HOUSE INTERIOR -STAGE AND SETTING. 



'GEIP'S" HISTOKICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



17 




THE PUBLIC SQUARE. 

Hiawatha, a wise Indian who gave his people — the 
Onondagas — laws and maxims from the great 
sijirit, resided on Cross (Tiota) lake. Eoreseeing 
the invasion of the whites (from Canada), Hiawa- 
tha caUed together his people with aU of their red 
brothers to the east and west, who at an ap- 
piointed time gathered on the north shoi e 
of Onondaga lake in a great multitude for 
the purpose of irniting in a gi'eat confederacy. 
Hiawatha and his daughter appeared in a 
canoe which moved without apparent means 
of propulsion. As father and daughter dis- 
embarked and ascended the bank a clovid in 
the dim distance descended upon them, as- 
suming more definite proportions as it ap- 
piroached rrntil it revealed the shape of a 
gigantic white bird, the white heron 
(wahkeon), which in a sudden, short, down- 
ward plunge struck the girl to the earth. 80 
great was the size of this bii'd that as it 
lay wounded upon the ground where it was 
quickly dispatched by the assembled war- 
iors, it seemed to entii'ely cover the stricken 
giii. But when the bu'd was removed not 
a trace of the girl could be found. She had 
disappeared from the earth. Her parent 
did not even have the consolation of paying 
the last sad rites to the memory of his be- 
loved. It was the great sacrifice he had 
been called upon to make that his people 
might live — that his words soon to be spoken 
might bear the neces.sary weight and, with 
the influence of this supernatural demon- 
stration working upon the minds of his 
countrymen, they would heed his admoni- 
tions. The following day Hiawatha's coun- 
sels prevailed. Words of wisdom and u „ der- 
standing flowed from his lips. "Unite, ye 
Ave nations!" he exclaimed, "And no foe 
shall disturb and subdue you." This w;is 
the keynote he struck. To each of the Ave 
nations, Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, 
Cayugas and Henecas, he assigned a posi- 



tion, in the confederacy. Then he 
went down to the shore and seated 
himself in his mystic canoe. Sweet 
music flUed the air, and while the 
awestricken multitude gazed upon 
their beloved leader, he was silently 
raised in his canoe to the skies 
where he disappeared like a speck 
melting from sight. 

"Tims depai'ted Hiawatha." 

— LongfelloM'. 

There the great confederacy 
began, Hiawatha's plans being 
adopted the following day by the 
great council of the Ir'oquois. 

Iroquois Lands. — The original 
territory of the six nations com- 
prised a greater part of Ne-s\- York 
state west of Lake Champlain and 
portions of Penn.sylvaniaand Ohio. 
The boundary line inclosing their 
domains, ran aliout as follows: 
On the north, from Maumee Bay 
along the south shore of Lakes 
Erie and Ontario and Niagara 
river and along the St. Lawrence 
river to the mouth ol the Grasse 
river; thence east on the 45th 
paridlel half way to Lake Chamiilain; south-east 
to Lake Chamijlain ; along the west shore of Lake 
Chami^lain from Plattsburgh to and along the 
Hudson river to the Mohawk river; south l;)y west 
along the east range of hills skh-ting the Susque- 




liASD yTANU, I'UHLIC SyrAlil 



18 



'GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



hanna valley to the jnuction of the Snsquehanna 
rivei- and Schene-viis creek; west along the former 
to the west liranch at Athens, Pa. ; along the west 
branch to its head waters; thence sontliwest in a 
direct hne to the Monongahela river ; thence west 
to and along the Monongahela and Ohio rivers to 
the Miami river; along the west branch of the 
Miami river to a point east of the headwaters of 
the east branch of the "Wabash river; thence di- 
rectly northeast to the head of Manmee bay on 
Lake Erie, at the site of the present city of Toledo. 



T. C. Stone taught a private school in 1843, EDiott 
W. Stewart having the previous year taught in the 
town hall. The latter year, 1842, the Camden In- 
stitute was oijened in the same place by Donald 
G. Frazier. In the meantime a high school had 
been established (previous to 1847). In the latter 
year Miss A. Howd advertised a select school in 
the basement of the Episcopal church. Miss Lu.cy 
Bowen taught select school in the house now occu- 
pied by Mrs. L. Stoddard Sanford, and at the 
eame time Mrs. C. C. Balicock taught across the 




FOREST PARK. 
Flower Bed, .Junction of Drives. (Ncsbitt.) 
Mt. Prospect. (A. B. Powell.) The Pines. (A. B. Powell.) 

Drive to Pavilion. (A. B. Powell.) 
At the Point. (Neshitt.) Drive 



The Terrace. (Nesbitt.) 

Prospect Cove. (A. B. Powell.) 

at the Entrance. (Nesbitt.) 



The Early Schools of (lamden were largely 
select schools tatight in jjrivate houses. S. E. 
Sweet taught a temporary normal school in the 
town hall which the coianty and town superin- 
tendents established in Camden for the term from 
Sept. 24 to Nov. 1, 1844. Miss Putnam, later the 
wife of Col. Eichard Empey, taught in the first 
regular district school building about 1821. Miss 



street. The j^resent Union school is the consolid- 
ation of districts 1 and 13, effected May 11, 1853. 
The original building in school district No. 1 
which stood near the south end of Second street, 
was then sold to Eeubeu Bettis and moved on to 
Main street where it was burned down. The red 
school house of district No. 13, which stood near 
the upper end of Main street, built in 1836, was 
sold to Eiley Rush, who now occupies it. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



19 




Boi-rowed Pliotii. 

ANDRES MEEKEK, 
Superintendent of Forest Park. 

The Oneida Indians, one of the original Ave 
nations included in tlie League of the Iroquois 
(called the Macjuas by the Dutch), at one time 
claimed ownership to all the lands now included 
in Oneida county, but in their treaties with the 
whites their claims north of Wood creek were not 
recognized, except t(5 the lands 1)ordering the 
shores of Oneida Lake. But theu- trails followed 



the nirmerous water courses which cross the town 
of Camden and theu' "lower castle" at the head of 
Oneida Lake was a few miles soitth of this vil- 
lage. During certain seasons of the year they 
repaired to Salmon river on the north for fishing 
and in going and coming followed a trail leading 
along the west shore of the west branch of Fish 
creek upon which the village of Camden is located. 
One of the earliest villages of the tribe stood on 
the shore of Fish creek near its junction with 
Little river, about three mUes below Camden. 
Here, at the time Benjamin Phelps, after whom 
the locality was subsequently called Phelpsville, 
settled the village was still standing and he found 
himself surrounded by a neighborly lot of red 
men. The Indians, who had then become ac- 
customed to then- white neighbors, gathered ma- 
terial for making baskets which they sold to the 
settlers. 

At the forks of the east and west branches of 
Fish creek the Oneidas held annual fishing feasts, 
attended by large numbers of the tribe. 

Vaiious treaties between the Oneidas and the 
state of New York gradually reduced theii- land 
area until in 1890 they possessed in the state of 
New York but about 3.50 acres, situated foiu- miles 
south of the city of Oneida, which they held in 
severalty. Their first sale of lands to the state 
was made in the treaty at Fort Herkimer, June 
28, 1785, when they disposed of a tract between the 
Chenango and Unadilla rivers for .'$11,500 in cash 
and goods. In 1788 they disposed of another slice 
for an annuity of .fOOO. On September 15, 1795, 
they agreed to another transfer for $2,952 in cash 
and a second annuity of $600. On June 1, 1798, 
still another sale was made for .$300 and an annu- 
ity of $700. On March 5, 1802, they received 
from the state for another parcel $900 and an an- 




Borruwed Cut. 



I'.VIilC VlliW DlilVE AND Pld ISl'ECT MT. 



20 



■GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




FOREST PARK CEMETERY. 

nuity of $300. In 1805 their lands were divided 
among themselves. In 1846, the main part of the 
tribe removed to Brown county, Wis., where they 
settled on a reservation of 65,540 acres granted to 
them by the United States government. 

The Oneidas were considered faithful to the 
colonists dnring the revolution and they prevented 
united offensive action against the colonists on the 
jjart of the Iroqiiois. 

An address by Congi-ess to the Oneidas and their 
tribal allies, the Tuscaroras, December, 1777,reads 
as follows: "It rejoices our hearts that we have no 
reason to reproach you in common with the rest 
of the Six Nations. We have exjjerienced your 
love, strong as the oak; and your iidelity, 
unchangeable as truth. You have kept fast 
hold of the ancient covenant chain, and 
preserved it free from rust and decay and 
bright as silver. Like brave men, for 
glory you despise danger; you stood forth 
in the cause of your friends, and ventured 
yo^^r lives in our battles. While the sun 
and moon continue to give light to the 
world, we shall love and respect you. As 
our trusty friends we shall protect you, 
and shall at all times consider your welfare 
as our own." 

Rev. John Richards, pastor of the M. 
E. church, was born in Mold, Flintshire, 
Wales, May 17, 1863. He was graduated 
from King's College, Chester, England, at the 
head of his class, and soon after entered 
mercantile Hfe, holding positions of triist in 
the cities of Livei'pool and London, England. 
Converted at the age of twenty-three, he 
was soon after called of God to preach and 
entered at once upon a theological course of 
studies. He entered the Montreal Confer- 
ence of the Methodist ehiirch in Canada in 
1888 and was stationed at MaEorytown, 
whence he was transferred in 1889 to Cata- 
raque, Kingston. In 1890 he joined the 
Northern New York Conference of the 
Metliodist Episcopal Church and was 
stationed at Evans' Mills. In 1891 he 



moved to Natural Bridge 
and Harrisville charge 
which he left two years 
later, after a most suc- 
cessful pastorate, to enter 
Boston, Mass., University 
as a special student. 
While there he filled the 
pull^it of the East Black- 
stone church. In 1895 
he went to Beaver Falls, 
N. Y., and two years 
later to Adams, N! Y., 
where he was pastor foiu- 
years, coming hence to 
Camden. His labors here 
were blessed with a re- 
vival in the whiter of 1901 
and '02 in which a hun- 
dred peo2ile knelt at the 
altar to imi^lore Divine 
forgiveness. On July 15, 
189(5, he was married to 
Maud Aiiiue, the j'oung- 
est daughter of the Hon. Americus Welch of 
Blackstone, Mass., to whose earnest and constant 
co-operation in his choson work much of his suc- 
cess is due. They have one child, a daughter, 
Dorrice Armyle, born December 15, 1899. 

Asbury Chapter, No. 13868, Epworth League, 
Fu-st Methodist Church, was organized in the 
summer of 1893, through the efforts of Mr. Frank 
A. McAdam and the pastor. Rev. W. D. Chase. 
On June 7, 1893, a Christian Endeavor society was 
organized with seventy-one members. R. C. 
Knapp was the first president (since elected for 
eighteen successive terms) and Miss Jennie 




Abbott, Chicas'o, Photo. 

SCENE ON THE PARK STREAM. 



"GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



21 




Abbott, Cbicayo, Photo, 



PHELPS BRIDGE. 



Chapman (now Mrs. E. J. Castle,) the fii-st secre- 
tary. The society did not grow preceptibly, and 
on December 7, 1894, at the suggestion of the 
pastor, Kev. W. F. Brown, the society by unani- 
mous vote merged into the Ejjworth League. 
There are at the present time 181 active members 
and .S80 in the treasury. 

The Junior League numljers ninety members 
;md is jsrosperous under the management of Mrs. 
Kichards, superintendent, and Mary Williams, 
president. The teachers are Mrs. W. D. Towsley, 
Mrs. Ezra Tracey, Miss Sadie Waldron, Miss 
Ethel Dilible, Miss NeUie Wilkinson and Miss 
Mattie York. The League has organized a sew- 
ing cii'cle with Helen 
Crowner president, a 
Mercy and Help depart- 
ment wdth Alice Towsley 
president, and a choii' of 
fifteen with Erwin Kima 
■chorister and Leona 
Knajjp pianist. 

The Ladies' Guild, 

Trinity church, was for- 
merly known as the 
"Sewing Society," and 
has existed from soon 
after the organization of 
the pai'ish. It now con- 
tributes largely to chui'ch 
expenses, sends away 
two missonary bo.xes a 
year, besides other mis- 
sionary work at home 
and abroad. The present 
(ifficers are, President, 
Mrs. E. H. Conant; Vice- 
President, Mrs. D. L. 
Mann; Secretarv, Blrs. 
S. C. Cromwell'; Treas- 
urer, Mrs. P. B. MiUer. 
The Sunday School is 
■doing good work, the 



officers of which are. Su- 
perintendent, the rector; 
Secretary, Miss Marion 
Potter; Treasurer, Mrs. 
S. B. Cromwell. Four 
grades of the young peo- 
ple of the parish meet 
statedly at the rector's 
house for instiiiction and 
social purposes. The 
young peoijle have raised 
funds for various repau's. 

The Great Fire, 

(reckoned from the ex- 
tent of territory devas- 
tated, if not from aggre- 
gate losses), occurred in 
1882, entirely destroying 
all of the liuildings on the 
west side of Main street 
between the Barnes block 
on the north (where the 
desti-ucti ve Park hotel fire 
of 1867 was stopped) to Mexico street, then 
west along the north side of the latter street to 
Fish Creek. The fire originated at 3 a. 
m., in Mr. Short's ice cream saloon, a small, ten- 
foot bivilding connecting the Exchange building 
with the Central Hotel. Among those burned out 
were J. H. Tracey, clothing; IMrs. C. Hornung, 
millinery; J. M. Peck, druggist; J. Olden, land- 
lord of the Central. (J. D. Cavarly was the owner) ; 
Churchill & Tibbitts, meat mai'ket; C. S. Pai'ke, 
harness shop, L. Duncan, jeweler, and E. Edie, 
restaurant. T. D. Penfield o^Tied the Exchange 
building. Not a building in the territory escaped 
total destruction. 




Abbott, ('liica^'o. Photo. 

IIIRAL TUDI'T HULK, XORTH IIK.VXCH FISH CUEEK. 



22 



'GRIP'S" HISTOKICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



Public Schools of Camden. — On the25tli day 
of April, 18()7, tlie taxpayers of the village of Cam- 
den met and organized a Union Free school dist- 
rict. The population of the village at that date 



ities requisite for academic training. The village 
was comparatively young in those days and it was 
the great desire of manj' of its peojile that there 
should be a school here which would supply the 




Hufsted, Pliotc)!?. 



THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. 



1, Jobn M. Yoiinj'', Presirlent;2, A. C. Woortruff, Secretary; S, A. H. Malonev, 4, "\V. I. Stoddard. .5, B. D. Stoue, 
6, S. L. Harding', T, Byron A. Ciirtiss, 8, G. J. Williams, H, D. G. Dorraiice. 



was much less than at present and the school was 
jjroportionately small. Previous to this there 
had been several small schools in and near the vil- 
lage, but none of these seemed to furnish the facil- 



edueational needs of the growing town. How well 
the plan worked and to what extent the school has 
met the expectations can liest be answered by a 
large majority of the present citizens of the town, 



"GEIP'S" HISTOKICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



23 



who at some time or other have been in actnal at- 
tendance. Keeping pace with the growing village 
the school has increased in actual attendance until 
today it is the largest graded school in the county 
outside of the two cities, Rome and Utica. It has 
also developed in character since those early days 
and is now one of the best schools in Central New 
York. As in most towns of the state, the village 
s3hool system of Camden consists of primary, 
grammar and high schools. The work of these 



perienee. Quite a large per cent, of the teachers 
in this department are Normal graduates, while all 
have had considerable experience in actual teach- 
ing before theii' connection with this school. The 
primary grades are under the care of teachers who 
have made primary and kindergarten work a spec- 
ial study. The most approved pedagogic methods 
are in use in all these grades, and everything is 
being done to make the teaching therein both effi- 
cient and eulminative. While the sTades are 




Hiiestecl, Photos. THE FACULTY. 

1, Prof. E. S. Babcoek. 3, Harriftte A. H.vnes. 3, Jossie M. Waketleld. 4, L. Gcrtrarto Lftoiiiird, 
6, Clara E. Ciirtiss, 7, Emma J. Gardner, 8, Jennii' Slooro, fl, Miiiiiio M. San lord, 10 
Clclland, 12, Glendora Leig-li, 13, .Jane Hanford. 



.. Winnit'red It. Perkins. 

Harriet Seriviii, 11. Effle JI. 



three schools is so arranged that, althoiTgh there is 
a division lietweeu the three departments, there is 
also an element of continuity extending from the 
lowest grade primary to the senior year of the 
High school. The first eight or nine years are de- 
voted to the study of elementary subjects. The 
grammar department, in which most of these sub- 
jects are taught, is under the care of instructors 
who are well qualified both Ijv scholarship and ex- 



taught in sections, still the individual pupil is not 
lost sight of and each one is given the widest lati- 
tude for promotion consistent with the merits of 
the individual case. The aim of the primaiw and 
grammar departments is a (horongh luiowleilge of 
elementary subjects enaljliug tlie pupil to enter the 
High school with sufficient mental eiiuipmeut to 
do good work in that department. These two de- 
partments have a registration of about four huu- 



2i 



'GBIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 




Abbott, Chicago, Photo. 



THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 



dred pupils and a faculty of eight teachers. The 
High school dates from Dec. 7, 1897, when the 
University of New York issued its charter. It oc- 
cupies the second floor of the new eastern wing 
and has a student registi-ation of over eightj'. Its 
present faculty consists of three college graduates 
and one Normal gi'aduate, each one of whom was 
selected hj the Board of Education for a sjoecial 
line of work. The course of study in this depart- 
ment continues through four years, at the end of 
which time the student is snpjjosed to be well pre- 
pared for any coUege. If, however, the student 
is contemplating a technical or special course else- 
where, he may, with the consent and at the direc- 
tion of the faculty, pursue such studies in this de- 
partment as seem liest adapted to the needs of the 
individual case. Latin, Greek, French, German, 
History, Literatm-e, Science, Mathematics (includ- 
ing plane and si^herical trigonometry) can here be 
studied under competent and experienced instruct- 
ors. That excellent results are being seciu'ed in 
this department is shown 
by the fact that during 
the last year the Regents' 
Department has volun- 
tarily wi'itten three letters 
commending the work 
actually done. The reg- 
istration of this depart- 
ment has increased near- 
ly 3U0 per cent, in the last 
twelve months and under 
the many improvements 
which the Board of Edu- 
cation are now contemp- 
lating, the attendance is 
destined to become much 
larger. The High School 
library contains over 
1.500 volumes, of which 
number about 1000 vol- 
umes have been pur- 
chased during the past 
year. These books have 
all been selected with 
reference to their specisil 
fitness for High School Abbott, Chicago, Photo. 



work. A very large per 
cent, of the total number 
of volumes are reference 
books and there is no 
Regents subject which is 
not represented. It is the 
intention of the school 
authorities to sujjple- 
ment the list of boolis 
already on hand by sub- 
stantial additions each 
year hereafter. Concern- 
ing this library a I'epre- 
sentative of one of the 
state departments re- 
cently said that, for its 
size, it is the best High 
School hbrary in the 
state. This library is 
open to students for refer- 
ence work during school 
hours. During the com- 
ing year it is the intention 
to place in the school 
physical and chemical 
laboratories of the latest 
and most ajjproved types. 
With the development of the school in other lines 
the authorities are determined that opportunities 
for the mtelligent and systematic teaching of 
science shall not be inferior to the teaching of the 
other departments; hence, they propose in the 
near future to make its scientific equipment thor- 
oughly efficient and commensurate with all the 
demands of High School work. The public 
schools occupy a large two-story brick building- 
located at the intersection of Union and Thu'd 
.streets. The entire buOding is heated with steam, 
is well lighted and is supi^lied with pure spring 
water from the village water system. The venti- 
lation of the building is ijerfect, the aii- coming 
directly from the outside and jiassing through the 
radiators into the rooms and thence to the outside 
again. Having been greatly improved this year 
by the introduction of the Smead system of clos- 
ets, the sanitation is exceedingly good. The 
building is in the center of a lai'ge, shady and 
beautiful lawn which, with its isolation from the 




THE HIGH SCHOOL. 



"GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



25 



active business portion of the village, renders its 
location as a school site advantageous. Aside 
from the expenditui-e of over $800 for cement 
walks for these grounds, much attention is yeai'ly 
given to their proper care. There is, perhaps, no 
more beautiful school campus in Central New 
York than the one in Camden. The school au- 
thorities are of the oi:)inion that not only in clean 
and wholesome liuUdings \n\t also in well kept 
grounds about them, there is a certain educational 
value which should not be overlooked. For sev- 
eral yeai-s the Camden High school has had quite 
a reputation for the number of students it pre- 



are below that of Camden. It will be seen by 
reading the above that the people of Camden de- 
su'e that the very best educational facilities be 
provided in this village. Both ui its teaching- 
force and in its equipment the school ranks high. 
This fact, together with the high moral tone of 
the community, makes the village an ideal place 
for a i^ermanent home. The present Board of 
Trustees consists of John M. Young, president; 
Arthiu' C. Woodruff', secretary; George J. Wil- 
liams, Byron A. Curtiss, Benjamin D. Stone, Dan- 
iel G. Dorrance, William I. Stoddard, Selden L. 
Harding and Andrew H. Maloney. The present 




IN"1'EI![(IR VIEWS CAMDEN inHiLIC SCHOOL. 
Pi-incipal's Olliuc. (Miilone.y, Pliotos.) Tlic Libnirv. 

HiK'h Scluiol DL'|.mrtnK.'nl.. (Skirinnr.) 



Dr:iwiny- CIiis.s. (Maloney.) 

pared for college. The numljer of such ])ersons is 
constantly increasing and they are found in a half 
a dozen or more colleges of the state. Encourage- 
ment is always given to this class of students and 
everything pf)ssible is done here to give them a 
good, thorough preparation for college work. 
One reason for the present excellent c(mditic)n of 
the Camdcm schools, it is believed, lies in the fact 
that in their care and supervision there is no par- 
tisan politics. In the actual management of 
sc^hool affairs great care is exercised and for every 
dollar expended there is value received. The an- 
nual .school tax is much lower than that in two 
other villages in Oneidacounty whose populations 



Kinderfjiu'ten. (Skinner.) 

faculty consists of: High School, E. S. Babeock 
A. M., Principal; Harriette A. Hynes, A. W. 
Preceptress; Jennie M. AVaketieldj Ph. B. ; L 
Gertrude Leonai'd. Grammar and Primary 
Winifred B. Perkins, Clara E. Curtiss, Emma J. 
Gardner, Jennie INIoore, Minnie M. Sanford, Har- 
riet Si-riven, Efiie Clelland, Glendora Leigh and 
Jane Hauford. 

Fire of '66, winch broke out in the morning of 
August 1'), burned the building on South Park 
street, occupied liy A. G. Mott's wagon shop, Jul- 
ius Allen's jiaint slio)) and INIyron and Edwin Sim- 
mons' blacksmith shop. 




Huestcd's and lioi'iowcd riiutiis, THE WHIST CLL'B rsap^k ■'- 

1, E. H. Conant 2 Mrs. E. H. Coiiant, 3, W. J. r.-isbie, 4. Mrs. W. ,J. Frisbie 5 A C Woudi-uff fi Mrs "a r Wonrt'rntf 

7, J. C. Davies 8 Mrs. J. C. Davies, 8, R. S. John,son, 10, Mrs. R. S. JolVnson 11 IJ G Doir\ncp ]■' M,'^' n r lin?' 



■GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAIMDEN. 



27 




ORVILLE A. MANZEK JR. MARJOEIE MANZER. SPENCER A. MANZER 
ORVILLE A. MANZER. MRS. MARY A. MANZER. 

seven 

Orville Adelbert Manzer was born in Ver- trade in tlie same store, 
non, Oneida county, June 5, 18i9. His boyhood 
"svas spent in Otsego county near Cooperstown and 
also in Madison county. At the age of eighteen 
years he entered the office of the Cazenoida Re- 
publican and served a complete course at the 
l^rinting trade. After finishing there, he was fore- 
man of the Fayetteville Recorder for several 
months and afterwards worked on the Democrat 
and Chronicle in Rochester, N. Y. In January, 
1871, he came to Camden and entered the employ 
of J. H. Hunger on the Camden Journal. He re- 
mained with the Journal until the fall of 1873 
when he accepted a jjlace in the office of the Cam- 
den Advance, which he has ccntinued to hold for 
nearly twenty-nine years. In AprU, 1875, he Avas 
married to Lvdia S. Hull, widow of the late Hora- 



tio Empey. She died April 29, 

1881, leaving two daughters, Mrs. 
George Underwood and Mrs. G. 
L. Marks, both residents of Cort- 
land, N. Y. On June 4, 1885, he 
was again married to Miss Mary 
A., the daughter of the late John 
Whaley, of Camden. The fruit of 
this union are three children, 
Orville A. Jr., Spencer A. and 
Marjorie. Mr. Manzer has lieen 
one of the important factors in the 
newspaper life of Camden for over 
a quarter of a century. He is the 
Keeper of Records and Seals in the 
Camden Lodge, K. of P., and has 
been since its institution. Upon 
the conclusion of his present term 
as secretary of the Board of Health 
he will have served in that position 
continuously twelve years. 

C. O. Biederman, the optician 
and jeweler, came to Camden in 
May, 1895, and bought the busi- 
ness, AA'here he is now located, of 
H. A. Williams, who had for 
years been in the jeweh'v 
Included in the stock 
carried at this jjlace are hollow, jjlated and solid 
silverware of all grades, comprising the Rogers 
make, clocks, silver novelties, watches, jeweh-y 
and diamonds. Mr. Biederman has been engaged 
in fitting glasses for twenty -five yeai's, including a 
five years' course of instruction which he took with 
Dr. Wiriam McCraw at Geneva, N. Y. He was 
born at Frankfort, Herkimer county, June 2, 1818, 
and for several years, from the time he was three 
years old, resided at Mohawk, where his father. 
Christian Biederman, carried on the harness busi- 
ness until his death, which occurred in 1892; 
the death of the latter's wife was in 1898. 
During a period of two or three years following 
his majority Mr. Biederman was employed in the 
armory at Hion, afterwai'ds going into the sewing 
machine Irasiness at Middletown, Ct., then becom- 




Skinnor, Photo; 



('. O. ISIEDEKMAX. 



C. (1. BIEDERMANS JEWELRY STORE. 



'GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 




HATTIE L. WOOD. 
WILLIAM DEAN WOOD. MKS. ELIZA M. WOOD. 

ing engaged with the New Haven Clock company 
where he learned to make and repau- watches and 
clocks. Two or three years later he was in Buf- 
falo in the same business and for a ^-eai- after ■ 
wards, again in the Ilion armory. In 1878 he 
went into the harness and jewelry business at 
Bridgewater, N. Y., where he engaged continu- 
ously in trade until he came here, serving for sev- 
eral years as to-svn clerk. On March 19, 1876, he 
married Mary E. Innes, of North Bay, N. Y., by 
whom he has one child, Chaa-les Innes Biederman. 
Mr. Biederman is a member of the Pre-sliyterian 
chui'ch and is affiliated with the Masonic order, the 
I. O. R. M., and the Maccabees, 

William Dean Wood came to Camden thirty 
years ago and started a 
miUinery and fancy 
goods store in a building- 
after wards biu-ned down, 
which stood where Miss 
Hornung's place of busi- 
ness now is. Erom 1875 
to 1880Mr.Wood traveled 
as a salesman and on Jan. 
1, 1881, desiring to make 
for himself a business 
which would permit him 
to remain at home, and 
yet such as would demand 
no great care and atten- 
tion, bought the property 
of the Mitchell estate on 
Main street, next north 
of the Episcopal church. 
By building an additioQ 
to the rear and greatly 
improving the building 
that was then standing, 
he obtained a spacious 
store with pleasant living 
apartments in the rear 
and on the second floor. 
Here he opened a five skinner, Plmtci 



and ten ceait store, a line of trade 
which at that time was hardly 
more than experimental. So he, 
shortly after, turned it into a 
fancy goods store, a business 
which his daughter, Miss Hattie L . 
Wood, has carried on since her 
father's death. That sad event 
occurred March 14, 1896, and was 
the termination of a long period 
of physical debility and a winter's 
illness which had seized upon Mr. 
Wood. Now his widow and 
daughter occupy the place, where 
they are very comfortably situ- 
ated, enjoying the social calls of 
their friends and the comfort of a 
quiet life, with a promising future 
for which they are amply provided. 
Mrs. Wood was born in Fairfield, 
Herkimer, county, N. Y., Aug. 4, 
1819, and is, therefore in her 88d 
year. She enjoys generally fair 
health and a remarkably w ell pre- 
served eyesight. Some of her time 
is spent emliroidering, and when 
the weather is fine and the walk- 
ing favorable she walks to Sunday 
services at the Methodist church of which she is a 
member, or to a neighbor's to make a call. She 
is Eliza, the daughter of the late Eli McConnell, 
for whom MeConnellsville was named. Her mar- 
riage with Mr. Wood was celebrated Jan. 20, 1810. 
Joseiohine (Mrs. Charles N. Hildreth), of Rome, 
and Miss Hattie L. Wood were, respectively, the 
eldest and youngest of their children; Eugene 
M. Wood died at Bergen, Monroe county, N. Y'^., 
and J. E., the wife of A. W. Kenfleld, died at 
Little Falls. Mr. Wood was at one time a very 
heavy tradesman and contractor. Although he 
lost a great deal of money he left his widow and 
daughter in comfortable chcumstances. To all of 
his family he was kind and indulgent. SociaUv 




MAIUA PIEHf^ALL'S HESIDENCE. 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



29 




^sara^ 



CAMBEN WOOD TURNING COMPANY'S FACTORY 

inclined and with an agreeable disposition he was 
good company at or away from home. He was 
born at Westmoreland, Oneida county, N. Y., Dec. 
19, 1814. When twelve years old he became a 
clerk for Hathaway at Rome and in 1837, when 
twenty -three years of age, he went to McConnells- 
ville and opened a general store which he con- 
ducted for many years. His residence in that vil- 
lage which stood across the street from his store is 
now the Grove Hotel. For about four years N. 
B. Foot, of Rome, was his partner. After that he 
carried on business alone. At that time stages 
were running between Rome and Oswego on the 
dii-ect road, passing through Camden and Wil- 
liamstown and other northern towns, and Mr. 
Wood got the contract for planking the highway 
over the whole route. This required more lumber 
than he could turn out in the required time in the 
saw mill which he was then running at McCon- 
nellsvOle and he brought into requisition aU of the' 
mills he could reach to an advantage to piroduce 
the pilanks his contract called for. He was also at 
that time, the proprietor of the grist mOl at that 
place and to supply the demand for flour, he was 
forced to buy wheat in lai'ge bulk at Buffalo and 
have it trans'ported to McConnelsviUe. He had 
contracts for jilanking other roads in the state 
which he secured by filing his liids at Albany. 

For twenty-five years he was ijostmaster at 
McConnellsvilIe and twice represented his town 
on the board of supervisors. In 1862 he was ap- 
pointed one of the recruiting officers in Oneida 
county, a position which he held until the close 
of the war. Mr. Wood's last days were spent 
restfuUy with his wife and his daughter Hattie. 
To the last three months of his life he was active 
and .spent most of his time in the store. It was 
only about a month ]irior to his 
death that he kept mostly to his 
bed. 

Camden Wood Working 
Company was organized in April, 
1901, J. M. Dunscomb, president 
and manager and J. B. Fitchett, 
secretary and treasurer, for the 
purpose of maniifaoturing hard 
wood turnings, ten pms, Indian 
clubs, dumb bells, dowels, tool 
handles, caster wheels, roUer skate 
wheels and a host of other useful 
articles. The company has a 
factory building at Camden and 
seven buildings at Osceola includ- 
ing the saw mill, novelty works, 
store houses, stables and seasoning 



shed. The novelty works are run. 
by steam which is also used in the 
dry kiln. The saw mill, where all 
the lumber that is used in the 
plant is sawed out of the logs, is 
run by water power. An electric 
light plant furnishes the lights 
for the buddings. The capacity 
of the novelty works is sufficient 
to supply the large li'ade which 
this company has biiilt up in all 
sections of the country, and is be- 
ing increased as fast as conditions 
warrant. The goods are sold to 
dealers throughout the New Eng- 
land and Middle states and a part 
of the west. About thu-ty men 
are at present employed, but this force wdl be in- 
creased as rapidly as the accommodations can be 
enlarged to work more men. The company has 
lately erected a new saw miU and dam and has put 
in several thousand dollars' worth of the latest and 
most apiDroved machinery. Men who have had 
years of experience in devising novelties as well as 
skilled mechanics who are experienced in fine 
mechanical work, are employed in putting out the 
most saleable articles. Licluding the two plants, 
at Camden and Osceola, the company is in a 
position to cater to the largest users of this class 
of goods. The parties interested in the enterprise 
are mostly New York men, who are determined to 
make this one of the leading novelty works in the 
country. 

The Camden Whist Club is one of the leading 
- social organizations of the village and was formed 
by a few of the married ladies who were socially 
inclined and who are yet numbered among its 
membership, in the year 1883. The charter mem- 
bers were: Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Munger, Mr. and 
Mrs. C. J. Wright, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Stans- 
fleld, Mr. and Mrs. AV. J. Frisbie, Mr. and Mrs. 
C. A. Wetmore, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Abbott, Mr. 
and Mrs. G. F. Conant, Mr. and Mrs. A. C. 
Woodruff and Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Conant. The 
initial partj' was given at the residence of Mr. and 
Mrs. George F. Conant on the evening of Oct. 30, 
1883, and the gatherings, which are now evening- 
dress affairs, at once became popular. The pre- 
sent membership complete is represented in the 
accompanying group of portraits, page 26. 




CAMDEX WOOD TUKNINU COMPANY'S EACTORY. 



30 



'GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




KEY. .\. E. DUNHAM. 

Trinity Episcopal Church. — The first ser- 
vice of the Epi.seopal chureli lield in Camdeu was 
in 1839, liy the Rev. Nathaniel Burgess, who held 
services for a time in the Town Hall. The mis- 
sion was known as that of St. Thomas and in- 
cluded Williamstown, Anusville, Florence, Vienna, 
Carterviile and various school houses. On Nov. 
28, 1842, the church society was formally iuoorjjo- 
rated under the laws of the state of New i'ui-k with 
the title linown in law as that of "The 
rectors, wardens and vestrymen of Trinity 
Episcopal church in the town of Camden, 
county of Oneida." At that time Artemas 
Trowbridge and Hiram J. IMiner were 
elected wardens and John A. Seewir, Edwin 
Rockwell, Henry Bacon, A. H. Hinckley, 
William Plumb, Edwin S. Dunbar, George 
Trowbridge and Jeiferson Colton, vestry- 
men. The Rev. Edward D. Kennicott was 
in charge. There were al)out fifty families 
— one hundred and thirty -eight adults and 
niiiety-niue children in the parish. Services 
were later held in an upjier room of the Aca- 
demy which was lt>cated on the south side 
of the village park. Meanwhile the church 
people were anxious to have a church home 
of their own and were putting forth every 
effort for that j.iurpose. Through the efforts 
of Artemus Trowbridge the vestry of Trinity 
church. New York, had given .SSOO with the 
provision that the new church liear the name 
of Trin.it3^ At a meeting of the vesti-y on 
Jan. 30, 1843, the matter of purchasing a 
site for the church was considered. The 
offer of Mr. J. Colton to deed the lot on 
which the church now stands to any ot the 
members of the church for the sum of $400 
to be paid Avithin a yeiu-, provided such per- 
sons would bind themselves to convey the 
said lot to tlie vestry of Trinity church, 
was promptly accepted. Messrs A. Trow- 
bridge, H. J. Miner, A. H. Hinckley and J. 
Ooltou, were appointed a IraUding com- 
mittee and the work on the church was 
pushed to completion, The building was 
consecrated by the Rt. Rev. William 



Heathcote DeLancy, Bishop of Western New 
York. It was a large, square, unpretentious build- 
ing of wood, painted white, with a long flight of 
steps reaching almost across the entir'e front. It 
stood nearer the street than the present church, 
and there was a sweet toned bell in the tower. 
In the gallery, which ran across the east end of the 
Iniilding, there was a fine organ, the first in the 
town, a gift of Artemas Trowbridge. The choir' 
was led by Mr. Roswell Ballard and Miss Jane 
Bright was organist. The chancel was beautiful- 
ly furnished with royal piirjile velvet with heavy 
fringe and tassels on the corners of the pulpit and 
reading desk cushions. The material was given 
liy Mrs. Jamieson, a devoted and generous church 
woman. At a meeting of the Vestry, Dec. 6, 1848, 
it was unanimously resolved to erect a tablet in 
the church to her memory justly due as a token 
of grateful remembrance of her active exertions 
and lilieral donations in establishing the Parish, 
and in the building and furnishing of the church 
edifice. This tablet was where the hymn board 
is now placed on the south side of the chancel. 
After the death of Mr. Jefferson Colton, the vestry, 
at a meeting, on May 19, 1849, adopted appropri- 
ate resolutions and voted to erect in the church a 
suitable tablet to his memory. At a meeting of 
the Vestry, Aug. 11, 1849, it was annoimced that 
the parish was free from debt, and the rector, the 
Rev. A. P. Smith, was highly commended for his 
untiring efforts for this object, and also for his 
personal attention to various alterations. On May 
29, 1867, the Vestry decided to sell the buUding 
and lot at private or public sale on the 15th of the 
next month. For some reason the sale was de- 
layed. 0)i the 22nd the church was burned togeth- 
er with many adjoinmg buildings. There was no 
insiirance, because of the irrespective sale of the 




TlUXm' l-U'ISCOPAL CHURCH. 



"GKIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



31 




TRINITY CH 

1, Miss Nellie L. Case. Orsaaist; 2, Mrs. G. H. Abbott, 3, 

6, Miss Cora Wiles, 7, Miss Persis P. Parke, S, Miss Jennie 

11, Miss Jennie Low, 12, Miss Carrie De.Yter, 13, Miss BeuL 

Kendall, 

property. The building committee, consisting of 
Stephen Cromwell, H. A. Case and A. L. Stone, 
began active operations with no money m the 
treasury, but the townspeople contriljuted gener- 
ously, as did also the neighboring parishes. In 
the meantime services were held in the Town Hall 
and in the Wesleyan chm-ch. On September 12 
the comer stone was laid by Bishop Coxe, assisted 
l>y the rector, the Rev. Francis GUhat. The work 
was progressing rapidly, the brick walls and the 
ratters being up, when, on Nov. 2, a terrilic wind 
storm passed over this 
section, doing much dam- 
age. It blew down the 
west wall of the church, 
and that, together with 
the roof timbers, fell into 
the building, injuring the 
east end and side waUs. 
The damage was esti- 
mated at about seven 
hundred dollars. Again 
the townspeople and 
neighboring parishes 
were called upon and re- 
sponded freely. At last 
the building was com- 
pleted, and was conse- 
crated Feb. 21, 1869, l)y 
the Rt. Rev. Arthur 
Cleveland Coxe, assisted 
by the clergy of the 
neighboring parishes. 
The financial statement 
was read by Mr. Steph- 
en Cromwell, the in- 



URCH CHOIR. 

Mrs. H. J. Kittrick,!, Geortje H. Abbott, n, Frank A. Mann, 
C. Nicliols, 9, Miss Marion Potter, 10, Miss Mamie Dexter, 
ah Batchelor, li, Miss Cornelia Jackson, 1.5, Miss Mar.iorie 

strument of donation l.iy the Rev. Francis Gilliatt, 
and the sentence of consecration by the Rev. Dr. 
VanDuesen, of Utica. The teachers and scholars 
of the Sunday school, with the assistance of the 
rector, presented to the church the beautiful 
chancel window. A rectory was purchased in 
jNIay 18-51, being the residence, No. 16 Washing- 
ton'St. This was sold in May 1867. Tlie present 
Vestrv is as follows: Wardens, A. W. Abbott and 
A. C.Woodruff; Vestrymen, G. H. Abliott, P. B. 
Miller, J. E. Overacker, R. S. Tnttle, Dr. J. B. 
Low, A. P. Jackson and T. C. Phelps. Rev. A. E. 
Dunham, B. S., is the present rector. 




LOUISA M. ABBOTT'S RESIDENCE. 



32 



"GKIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




KEY. .lOHN RICflAKDS. 

First Methodist Episcopal Church — (Con- 
densed from compilation by Rev. H. M. Danfortb) 
The first record of Methodism in Camden is the 
invitation that was extended to Rev. David Dun- 
ham, in 1801, liy Mrs. Esther Parke and Mrs. Har- 
ris, who walked to Western, 18 miles, for that 
purpose. He formed a class composed of Mrs 
Esther Parke, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Case and 
Mrs. Fish. There was then no conference 



here, the preachers being sent as missionaries by 
the Baltimore conference and expected to 
travel the '-Herkimer Cii-cuit." In 1803 Rev. 
William Keith and Rev. Henry WiUis came to 
Camden once in four weelvS. Rev. John Taylor, 
from New Hampshii-e, AugiLst 24, 1802, reported 
the people of Camden "to be all Congregational- 
istsbuttwo." The first from this section to be 
licensed to exhort was Zadock Covey. Caleb 
Preston, of Preston Hill, was then a licensed 
preacher. In 180i the Methodists held a quar- 
terly meeting in Caleb Preston's barn. From 
1803 to 1806 Lorenzo Dow, Rev. Knowlton and 
Rev. Paddock were travelmg preachers who vis- 
ited Camden. Rev Ehakim Stoddard preached a 
sermon at Mrs. CoUins' funeral in the Congrega- 
tional church about this time. The second quar- 
terly meeting was held in Rev. C. Danforth's 
house near the cemetery. Among other preachers 
who were in Camden 'prior to 1831 were Rev 
Charles Giles 1812-13, Rev. A. Gilibrd, Rev.' 
James Brown and Revs. Lambert, Lowery, Beach, 
Isaac Puffer, Stebbins, Corey, Saten, Haa-mon' 
Pomeroy and Halstead. The first presiding elder 
was Rev. William Case. In 1820 the church soci- 
ety was organized and at a meeting on October 23, 
1820,_ the trustees were authorized to purchase a 
site for a building. Land sufficient for the church 
and parsonage, upon which those buildings now 
stand, was purchased of Joel and Abel CoUins for 
•fSO. This was in 1821. In 18.51 an adjoining piece 
was purchased of T. D. Penfield for .«85. Joel 
B. Smith secured the contract for erecting 
the structure 40x50 feet, enclosed and outside work 
completed September 15, 1821, and the follow- 
ing year he contracted to finish the interior. The 
trustees then were Isaac Allen, Ei)hraim Sanford, 
Jesse Penfield, E. Humphrev, Lyman Steadman' 




Borrowed Cut 



METHODIST EPISCOI'AL CHUKCH AND PAK.SONAGE. 



'GKIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



33 




TOWN BOAKD, 1901-'03. 
1 I. D. West, Supervisor; 2, R. H. Robertson, Town Clerk; 3, R. M. Rush, Justice; 
4, Ambrose Osborne, Justice; 5, Georg-e L. Tniflern, Justice; 6, Jolin G. Jeffrey. 

Eliplialet Johnson, EHakim Stoddard, Sage Parke Eev. E. H. Joy 1897, 
and Jehial Higgins. The church was dedicated in 
the spring of 1823, Eev. Charles Giles, Presiding 
Elder of the Oneida Conference,preachingthe ser- 
mon. In 1829 the church headed off a scheme 
for taking part of its land for a public highway hy 
erecting horse sheds in the course of one night. 
In 1831, at the session of the Oneida Conference 
in Lowville, Camden was made a station, Eev. 
Eol)ert Fox receiving the appointment of pastor. 
He was followed by Eev. Goodwin Stoddard 1832, 
Eev. Eliakim Stoddard, 1831, Eev. Eobert Eey- 
nolds, (supply) 1836, Eev. A. Blackman 1836, Eev. 
E. W. E. Allen 1839, Eev. G. C. Woodruff 1810, 



Eev.Harvey Chapin 1812, 
Eev. Eussell West 1844, 
Eev. P. D. Garrie 1845, 
Eev. Ezra S.Squier 1847, 
Eev. F. H. Stanton 1849, 
Eev. Almon Chapin 
1851, Eev. George Gary 

1853, Eev. O. M. Legate 

1854, Eev. D. M. Sogers 

1856, Eev. Wm. Jones 

1857, Eev. W. S. Titus 
1859, Eev. Eliakim Stod- 
dard 1860, Eev. Lenuiel 
Clark 1861, Eev. J. T. 
Alden 1863, Eev. J. C. 
Vandercook (supply) 
1863, Eev. J. H. Lamb 
1865, Eev. O. C. Cole 
1867, Eev. H. M. Dan- 
forth 1871-4, 1880-3, Eev. 
T. Eichey 1874, Eev. A. 
L. York 1875, Eev. B. 
F. Barker 1877, Eev. W. 
E. Cobb 1878, Eev. W. 
L. Tisdale 1883, Eev. C. 
H. (inile 1886, Eev. W. 
Dempster Chase 1891, 
Eev. W. F. Brown 1894, 

Eev. E. H. Joy 1897, Eev. A. P. Pahner 1899, 
Eev. John Eichards 1901. The first parsonage 
was built in 1842. 'The present church building 
was built in 1852 and dedicated December 22 
of the same year, the old clmrch being sold and 
moved away. A bell was purchased by subscrip- 
tion. The first organist was Zopher More who 
played the instrument thirteen years free of charge. 
During Eev. C. H. Guile's pastorate, 1886-91, the 
church was remodeled and a new tower and an ex- 
tension were constructed. The new parsonage 
was constructed m 1893. George J. Williams 
gave his services as the architect and T. D. Pen- 
field contributed his time superintending the work. 




EPWOliTH LEAGUE CABINET. 
1 Rev Joliu Richards, 2, R. C. Knapp, a, Mrs.Jobn Hiclmrds, 4, Mrs. E. Van Biiren, "i, Mr.s. U. T. Wood, li, H. B. 
Rosenthal, T, Mrs. Frank E. Woodard, 8, Geori^e Shaw, H, Miss Emma Kiel, 10, Ehner Rush, 11, W. C. Stoddard, 13, 
Mrs. K. C. Knaup. 



34 



'GEIP'S" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 




DAVID J01IXS(JN. .JAMES H GAJIIJLE. UUtfSlTKK J. GAMBLE. 

LAUHA JOHNSON. CHAKLOTTE M. GAMBLE. ELIZABETH GAMBLE YOUNG 

David Johnson, a native of Connecticut, born 
in 1789, came to Camden in the early days of its 
settlement and followed the trade of blacksmith. 
He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He died in 
187-3, aged 84 years. His wife, A\ho was also from 
Connecticnt, was Laura Wilson, daughter of 
Sylvanus and Chloe Wilson. They were married 
in 1828 by the Eev. Henry Smith, of beloved 
memory, shortly before his death. Five children 
were born to them, Elizal)eth, Lucien, Horace, 
Eliza and Charlotte. The 
latter is the only sur- 
viving member of the 
family. Elizabeth died 
March 4, 1879. Lucien 
was a soldier in the civil 
war, being a member of 
the 9th Illinois Cavalry. 
When on a foraging ex- 
pedition, he suffered a 
sunstroke, from which he 
died in camp at St. 
Helena, Arkansas, in 
1862. Although buried 
in that far away state he 
is recognized by our 
veterans as a Camden 
soldier, who on Memorial 
Day place flowers under 
the inscription on the 
family monument. Eliza 
died from injuries re- 
ceived from a stroke of 
lightning when eleveu 
years of age. Charlotte 
was also severely burned 
but received no perma- 



nent injury. Horace died 
at the age of 28. 

JamesHenryGamblq 

was born -A.ug. 18, 1835, 
and died May 30, 1899. 
He married for his first 
wife Philomela Sperry, 
daughter of Sherman 
Sperry. At her death 
she left one son, Fred 
Sperry Gamble. Mr. 
Gamble's first venture in 
trade for himself was in 
the grocery business in 
jiartnership with Mr. 
(t)uincy Barber. After a 
time that partnership was 
dissolved and Spencer 
J. Upson became his 
partner. Mr.Gamllewas 
also engaged in the book 
and stationery business. 
Later he ■^^•as appointed 
deputy postmaster and 
served in that capacity 
for about fifteen years. 
Af terA\ards he estaljh^hed 
the shoe business, which 
is now carried on by his 
son, Fred S. Gamble. 
Mr. Gamble married for 
his second wife Charlotte 
Maria Johnson. Two 
children were born to 
them, Elizabeth A. Gam- 
ble and Eossiter Johnson 
Gamble. Mrs. Gamble 
held the position as or- 
ganist in the Congregational ohureh for about 22 
years, commencing on a httle, old, squeaky melo- 
deon which often called for repairs liefore the ser- 
vice was concluded. By untiring eflbrt, labor and 
expense, the present instrument was placed in 
position when the church was built. Elizabeth, 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs.Gamlile, married George 
WUsonQ'oung. ^Irs. Young, the present organist, 
has held the position for the jiast eleven years. 
Eossiter died in 189.5, at the age of 18 vears. 




Bon-owed Photo. 



MRS. CHARLOTTE M. GAMBLE'S RESIDENCE. 



'GKIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



35 



St. John's Church. — It is sixty-foui" years 
since Eev. Father Beecbam, commonly known as 
the i30X3e of Rome, N. Y., pushed his way thi-ough 
forest roads to Florence to say mass ia private 
houses and baptize the children. His manly 
form, mounted on horseback, with vestments for 
mass strajiped on behind him, became familial on 
these visits along the lonely forest roads. The 
few Cathohc families dwelling in Camden and its 
neighborhood joined him m Florence on these oc- 
casions. Whether Rev. Father KeUiher, the first 
resident priest at Florence, ever celebrated mass 
in Camden is not known with certainty. Succeed- 
ing him came Fathers Fitzpatrick and Ladden, the 
latter the cousin of the present bishop of Syracuse. 
In 1852, Father Fitzpatrick, then pastor of Flor- 
ence and siu-rouuding missions, Williamstown, 
Camden, Taberg and Cleveland, thought of 
making his residence in Camden, as being more 
central and convenient; and, with this idea in 
view, he pui'ohased the old Methodist church and 
rented a house onChui'ch street, opposite the present 
rectory. He moved to Camden, but the opposition 
of his Florence pM'ishioners was so great that, on 
the advice of his bishop, he returned to Florence, 
having resided in Camden about three year's. The 
old chiu'ch, which was purchased by him, was 
fitted up and mass celebrated regularly by him 
and Father John Ludden,his successor, down to the 
year 1876. In January of that year, through the 
influential petition of P. H. Costello, Rt, Rev. 
Bishop McNierny of Albany, appointed Rev. 
Patrick H. Beacham, now of Baldwinsville, as the 
first resident pastor He occupied a rented house 
on Third street, a few steps from the church. On 
March 6, 1886, Rev. Father Brenuan took charge. 
Father Brtnnan did not remain quite a year, be- 
ing called to Bmghamton. He was succeeded at 
St. John's by the Rev. John H. MoGraw, now of 
ClayviUe. Father McGraw rented a house at 150 
Main street, in which he dwelt untU his appoint- 
ment to St. Patrick's, Clay\'iLle, in June, 1891. 
On Ash Wednesday, 1889, St. John's chui-ch w:«3 
badly gutted by fire. It was then decided to 





i^kiiunT, Photo 



ST. JOHN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH. 



REV. FATHER JOHN TIERNAN. 

build a new frame church on the site occupied by 
the old one, the latter being move 1 aside to the 
rear of the carriage shop where it still stands. The 
corner stone of the new church was laid in the 
early fall and on Christmas day mass was cele- 
brated for the first time in the new structiu'e, mass 
having been said in the meantime m Cui'tiss Hall. 
On June 1, 18J1, Rev. Joseph S. Tiernan was ap- 
pointed from St. Patrick's church, Binghamtou, 
N. Y. , as the fourth resident pastor of St. John's. 
It was his fir.st pastox-al appointment. He is stUl 
pastor of this beautiful church. During his nearly 
eight years tenure he has been public spirited and 
has imjaroved the property very much. The num- 
ber of Cathohc famihes m Camden and vicinity 
has never been large, yet 
their work, under the 
leadership of Rev. Father 
Tiei'nan, assisted by the 
kind non-Catholic com- 
munity, wOl show well in 
comparison with any 
parish or vill'ige of its size 
and uumliers. In the first 
nine months of his ad- 
ministration a new steel 
roof was placed upon the 
clnu'ch and its mortgage, 
,11;l,060, paid. In the 
year 1897 the interior of 
the church was beauti- 
fully frescoed, the balance 
of pews put in, electric 
lights placed in position 
and a new parochial resi- 
dence, costing |;2,700, was 
piu'chised and fitted up 
as the residence of the 
pastor. There was quite 
a celebration on his tak- 
ing possession of the new 
I'ectory. In 1898 an ad- 
dition costing .'§11,000 was 



36 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Skinuer, Photo. KEV. T. WHIFFEN. 

buDt. to the hou.se. In 1899 the eutu-e property 
received a handsome coat of i^aint and the grounds 
were laid out and beautified. In 1901 an addition 
was built to the barn which has completed all 
needed improvements and the congregation of this 
thriving parish are now contemplating the cele- 
bration of the golden jubilee of its foundation, 
which will occur ui June, 1902. The celebration 
will partake of the nature of a grand mis.sion, the 
erection of a marble tablet in the church, the bless- 
ing of a new beU and the payment of .$2,000 mort- 
gage on the rectory. With the exceijtion of this 
mortgage the entne property is out of debt and 
both church and house furnished with all the con- 
veniences of a city parish. During the adminis- 
tration of Rev. Father Tiernan, besides these 
many improvements, there have lieen several dona- 
tions on the part of societies to the cburch, viz: 
Beautiful sanctuary carpet by the Rosary 
society; brass candelabra to the altar by the 
Holy Name society; statue of Sacred Heart, 
by the League of the Sacred Heart; sanctu- 
£ay chairs, by the Young Ladies' Sodality, 
jmd a statue of St. Anthony by his many 
friends in the parish, chiefly through the 
.exertions of Miss Anna Farrell. 

There are several Societies connected with 
M;he chiu'cli, the same as will be found in .ill 
well organized Catholic parishes. 

Free Methodist Church. — Camden was 
first served by Free Methodist preachers, in 
■connection with what was called the "big 
'Cii-cuit," after the old order of Methodist 
itinerancy. The "big circuit" included 
(Camden, Rome, Blossdale, New Loudon, 
Oneida and Vienna The old Wesle3'aii 
church, on the corner of Third and Church 
streets, was bought and repaired. M. L. 
Atwood, of Rome, contributed some $!)dO, 
others doing nobly. Later the cliuroh was 
again altered anil repaired, the present 
pleasant and convenient building, known 
;is the Free Methodist church, lieing the sk 



result. The following preachers have been sta- 
tioned at Camden: F. J. Dunham, C. Beeman, M. 
S. Babcock, M. D. McDougal, L. H. Robinson, 
E. N. Jenks, D. C. Johnson, F. AV. Catliey and 
T. Whiffen, the present pastor. The present trus- 
tees are J. C. McDonald, V. D. Skinner and O. 
Morse. Rev. T. AVliiffen, who is now pastor of the 
Free Methodist church, of Camden, united with 
the Susquehanna conference in 1867, in the 
twenty-first year of his age, and has served practi- 
cally without intermission. The following are 
among his pastorates: Saratoga, Philadelphia, 
Ithaca, Watertown, Rome, Utica, Syracuse, Bing- 
hamton and Oswego, besides several years as dis- 
trict (presiding) elder. 

The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the 
Free Methodist church, of Camden, was organized 
in October, 1900. The object of the society is to 
awaken mterest in foreign mis.sions, to secure sys- 
tematic giving to the missionary cause and to 'in- 
crease missionary Imowledge among us as a cliuroh. 
The society is supportirg an orphan gul at Yeot- 
mal, India, one of many who were gathered in by 
Free Methodist missionaries at that place durmo- 
the recent famuie. The officers are: President" 
Mrs. F. W. Oathey; Fu-st Vice President, Mrs. o! 
Morse; Second Vice President, Miss Carrie 
Wight; Secretary, Mrs. Anna Loomis; Treasurer, 
Mrs. Jennie Handy. 

The Home Missionary Society of the Free 
Methodist Church, of Camden, was organized m 
December, 1900. Contributions have been sent 
at different tunes during the year to the Open 
Door Mission in Syracuse, N. Y., and to the 
Gerry Orphanage and Home, located at Gerry, 
N. Y. The officers are the same as the Woman's 
Foreign Missionary Society. 

The W. C. T. U. of Camden, was organized bv 
Mrs. Bullock May 16, 1889. The presidents have 
been: Mrs. C. M. Tibbits, Mrs. M. Tiiiple, Mrs. 
Helen M. Rush and, Mrs. W. D. Towsley. The 
departments of work taken up have l)een scientific 
temperance instruction, juvenile or loyal temiier- 
ance legion worli, evangelistic, press work, Sundav 
school department and nnfermented Avine, supple- 
mented fl-ith parlor meetings, mother's meetings 




inner, Plioto. FHEE METHODIST CKUKCH. 



'GEIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



37 




Huested, Plioto. 



H. R. HUESTED. 



and flower mission work. The members of the 
Camden union who have held county offices are: 
Mrs. Pahner, vice president; Mrs. C. M. Tibbits, 
superintendent of scientific temperance instruc- 
tion; Mrs. Helen M. Eush, of unfermented wine 
and later of Sunday school work. The speakers 
seciared liy the union have been Mrs. Boole, Mrs. 
Bullock, Mrs. Hadley, Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Baxter, 
Mrs. Blair, Rev. Stanley Eoberts, Eev. Gurnev, 
Mrs. Surges and many others. The present offi- 
cers are; President, Mrs. W. D. Towsley; Corres- 
ponding Secretary, Mrs. H. Goodwin Stark; 
Treasurer, Mrs. Helen M. Eush. 

H. R. Huested, the photographer who made 
many first-class portraits from which the half-tone 
jjlates in this woi'k were produced, besides pro- 
viding other excellent photographic work for 
"Grip's" Historical Souvenir's, is an acknowledged 
artist in all branches of his profession. Modern 
ishotography has found in him an adept as an ex- 
IJonent of new and rare productions, such, for in- 
stance, as the platinums which are made to 
resemble the charcoal drawings of the 16th century 
and which, in keeping with the twentieth centiiry 
fad for colonial ideas in art and mechanics, are 
becoming very popular. Some of his newest work 
includes "Artists' Proofs" in which the portraits 
are finished in exquisite stvle. 

Mr. Huested, in March, 1899, bought out Artluir 
Moses, whose gallery stood on Second street in 
this village. This he has converted into a tasty 
and comfortable studio which, owing to his busi- 
ness engagements elsewhere, is opened only one 
day a w^ek — on Thursdays. He also has a fully 
equipped studio at Pulaski Avhere he makes sit- 
tings on Tuesdavs. 



Mr. Huested -nas born in Adams, Jefferson 
county, N. Y., May 26, 1874. His early 
schooling was obtained in that village and 
i7i Mannsville, Jeflerson county, and was fol- 
lowed by a three years' course in Owego 
academy. When 19 years old he engaged to 
learn ijhotography of his father, G. P. 
Huested, and sjjent six years with him. He 
then took a course with N. L. Stone at Pots- 
dam, N. Y., and afterwards spent a year in 
his father's gallery at Sandy Creek, N. Y. 
The latter has been engaged in the business 
for thirty years. Mr. Huested first started 
in business in the Pulaski gallery. Sub- 
sequently he opened a gallery at Altmar 
and afterwards at Orwell. He disjjosed of 
the Altmar gallery at the time he bought the 
Camden gallery. In 1901 he sold out the 
Orwell business. 

C. W. Shaver, M. D., began practice in 
Camdem in 1S97, but for more than twenty 
years he has followed his profession in the 
vicinity of that village, duruig that time 
having a practice extending over a con- 
siderable portion of the northtrn part of 
Oneida county. For seven years, or from 
1880 to 1887, his residence was in Vienna, 
where he first located to begin practice upon 
leaving his studies. Then he moved to 
Florence, his dailj' cu'cuits taking in that 
part of the county lying on the other side of 
Camden, and there for ten years he pursued a 
protitalJe practice, becoming widely known 
throughout that section. So that when he 
Came to Camden he was already well estabHshed m 
his calling. He bought the property near the corner 
of Second street and Miner avenue where he has a 
pleasant residence as well as a commodious office 
buildiag. In 1901 he was chosen health officer of 
the vOlage, a position he continues to occupy and 
the duties incumbent thereof as well as the ex- 
tended practice he has enjoyed during the five 




Huested, Pholo. C. W. SHAVEli, M. D. 



38 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Huested, Photo. JOHN G. DORRANCE. 

years he has been in Camden, fiilly oocuisy his 
time io the exchision of other matters, , although 
lie is an active member of lociil fraternities, includ- 
ing the Masonic orders, the Odd FeUows and the 
Maccabes, to which he devotes a part of his per- 
sonal attention. He is also a member of the medi- 
cal societies of Oswego and Oneida counties. 

Dr. Shaver was born in Vienna. Oneida Co. , N. 
Y., Oct. 25, 1856, but when he was a child his par- 
ents moved to Buttalo where he attended the piil)- 
lic schools, graduatmg from the Central school in 
1876. His medical coui'se of studies was taken in 
the University of Huifalo, from which he was 
graduated in 1879. It was after locating at Vienna 
that he was married, Sept. 1-', 1883, to Miss Kate 
Fox, of that vUlage. They have one daughter, 
Charlotte, who attends the Camden 
school. 



J. G. Dorrance, President of 
The Fu-st Xational Bank, has been 
in business in Camden since 1865. 
For the fir,st eleven years, until tlie 
fail of 1876, he carried on mercantile 
trade in what was then known as the 
Trowl;>ridge store, which stood on 
the Corner of Main and Mexico 
streets, the present site of the Dor- 
ranceBlock He was then associated 
with his father, Daniel G. Dorrance, 
in establishing a private back— in 
May, 1876 — which bore the f r n 
name, D. G. & J. G. Dorrance. 
This was loc ited on the east side of 
Main street, where a large jirivate 
banking business was carried on 
until .January, 18S0. when it was 
succeeded by the Fhst National 
Bank of Caiuden, in which Messrs. 
D. G. & J. G. Dorrance ^vere the 
principal incorporators, hulding 
the majority shares of stock. 

Mr. J. G. Dorrance's father, 
Daniel G. Dorrance, was never a 
resident of Camden, although he 
was possessed of considt-ralile pro- 



perty interests in the village and was the founder 
and the head of the banking interests liere until 
his death, which occurred at Oneida Castle, 
BL'u-ch 26, 1896. He was born in Peterboro, 
Madison county, March 13, 1811, and in 1832 
went into business in Florence, one of the towns 
adjoining Camden. In 1859 he moved to Oneida 
Castle. He enjoyed tlie quiet of his home as 
well as the historic associations attached to the 
place, and he invested quite largely in lands there. 
He was the President of the Oneida Savings and 
the Oneida Valley National Banks and the West- 
cott Chock works, of Oneida, besides being finan- 
cially and actively interested to a large extent in 
other parts of the county. At first a Whig and 
then, lieguming with its organization, a Republi- 
can, he had represented Oneida county in both the 
state senate and assembly. Of the three sons and 
daughters who survive him, idl of whom are now 
living, J. G. Dorrance was the oldest. The 
others were D. G. and W. H. Dorrance, of Cam- 
den, and Mrs. Dr. H. H. Bronson and Mrs. 
Charles L. Knapp (wife of a weh-kuown state sena- 
tor) of LowviUe. 

Mr. J. G. Dorrance was born at Florence, 
Oneida county, Dec. 17, 1837, and was educated 
in the Cazenovia Seminm-y. In 1856 he went into 
business at East Troy, Wis. , which he carried on 
untn he Came to Camden hi 1865. On Feb. 5, 
1861, he married Miss Ellen E. Browai, of Oneida, 
to whom w^ere born two cliUdren, Daniel J. Dor- 
rance, cashier of the Fhst National Bank, and 
Mrs J. C. Davies, wife of Attorney General 
Davies. Mr. Dorrance was appointed Commis- 
sioner of Prisons from the Fifth Judicial District, 
for the term of five years, by Gov. Morton, in 1895, 
and was re-appointed for the full term by Gov. 
Roosevelt. Mr. Dorrance's support of pubhc im- 
provement for town or village is ever expected and 
never withheld. He is one of the members of the 
VOlage Board of Water Commissioners and has 
served in other town and viUage offices. 




CluiliiTi, I'liotc; 



.luHiN UOKKANOE'S RESIDENCE. 



'GKIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



39 




Hiiested.Pliiito. [>AXIi:i. .1. DuRRANUE. 

Daniel J. Dorrance, cashier of the Fh-st Na- 
tional Bank of Camden, was appointed teller on 
January 12, 1866, assistant cashier September 14, 
1893, and cashier July 16, 1836. He was bom in 
East Troy, Wis., July 25, 1862, and became a 
resident of Camden when his parents returned 
from the west, three years later. On leaving the 
Public School, at Camden, he pursued higher 
courses of study at the Clinton Grammar school 
and the Caze'novia seminary, and entered the 
bank as clerk in 1884. His marriage with Miss 
Edith L. Turner, of LowviUe, was celebrated Feb. 
22, 1887. 

The First National Bank of Camden suc- 
ceeded the private banking firm of D. G. and J. 
G. Dorrance on January 26, 188;), with a capital 
of $50,000. The last report made by this bank, at 
the close of the- year of 1901, shows the surplus 
and undivided profits to be about |30,000. The 
original officers of the new bank were Daniel G. 
Dorrance, president; A. T. VanValkenbnrgh, vice 
president; John G. Dorrance, cashier. The other 
members of the first board ol directors were 
George Berry, Lucius B. Goodyear and Aaron 
Cornish. Mr. Daniel G. Dorrance was continued 
as president ujj to his death, March 26, 1836, and 
was succeeded by his son, Jolin G. Dorrance, 
July 16, 1896. Upon the date of the resignation 
of A. T. VanValkenliurgh as vice jiresident, Janu- 
ary 13, 1886, Edwin A. Harvey was elected to fill 
the position, which he held to the time of his 
death, July 6, 1896. Since then the office has 
been vacant. Daniel J. Dorrance, the present 
cashier, was appointed July 16, 1896. The pres- 
ent officers and du-ectors are: J. G. Dorrance, 
l^resident; Daniel J. Dorrance, cashier; W. H. 
Dorrance, A. T. VanValk juburgh and Lucius B. 
Goodyear. 

Supervisors from Camden. — JohnW. Bloom- 
field, 1799-1801 ; John Kogers, 1802; John Hun- 
niston, 1803-5; Israel Stoddard, 1806-8; Elihu 
Curtiss, 1809-10; Phineas Tuttle, 1811-12; Seth 
Dunbar, 1813-16; Israel Stoddard, 1817-24, Seth 



Dunbar, 1825; Israel Stoddard, 1826-28; Seth Dun- 
bar, 1829-31; Israel Stoddard, 1832; Seth Dun- 
bar, 1833; Seymour Curtis, 1834; Gerritt Smith, 
1835; John Smith, 1836: Samuel B. Hinckley, 
1837-38; Seth Dunbar, 1839; D. A. Gatchel, 1840; 
Junius Woods, 1841-2; Samuel B. Hinckley, 1843; 
Horace Dunbar, 1844-45; Ambrose Curtiss, 1846-7; 
Edwin S. Dunbar, 1848-9; George W. Wood, 1850; 
Thomas D. Penfield, 1851-3; Edwin S. Dunbar, 
1854; Jarius H. Munger, 1855; Horace Dunbar, 
1856-7; Alfred Chamberlin, 1858; Thomas D. Pen- 
field, 1859; Albert Bickford, 1860; Thomas D. 
Penfield, 1861; Pliny Phelps, 1862; P. C. CosteUo, 
1863-6; Henry S. Waterman, 1867-8; Benjamin D. 
Stone, 1869-70; Curtis J. Wright, 1871-2; Spencer 
J. Upson, 1873-4; B. A. Curtiss, 1875-6; Thomas 
D. Penfield, 1877-81; Benjamin D. Stone, 1882-3; 
Chauncev M. Phelps, 1884-5; Thomas D. Pen- 
field, 1886; Jaliez Ford, 1887-8; Andrew W. Craig, 
1889-9; Orson C. Woods, 1831-2; William H. Gif- 
ford, 1893-5; William S. Peck, 1896-7; I. D.West, 
1900-'02. 

The Earliest Brickyard in the vicinity of the 
village was owned by Alexander liilpatrick, who 
opened it in 1847. It was in the town of Vienna, 
about three-fourths of a mile east of Little Kiver 
bridge. Only one kiln of brick was tirrned out 
(in 1848) by"Mr. Kilpatrick and its entire output 
was sold to A. G. Ohustead for.S2.50 perfhoirsand, 
JMr. Kilpatrick who was teaching school, desu-ing 
the money to assist him in getting an education. 




-Wfrf-niffWTir 







li. H. stone, I'luito. FIK8T N.\TIn.\AI. li.VNK. 



40 



'GBIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




J. C. DAVIES. 

John C. Davies, Attorney-General of the state 
of New York, is a resident of Camden, the village 
in which he made his home before he entered 
public life. Here, among all of his family con- 
nections, he passes the occasional brief periods of 
time, which his jjublic duties grudgingly sj^are 
him, as plain "Jack" Davies, interesting himself 
in village affairs with that spirit of home loyalty 
which he displayed when, as a practicing attorney, 
he set out to win his political spurs in the town 
caTicus and succeeded in rallying a strong and en- 
thusiastic following around his banner. Begin- 
ning at corjjoration gatherings called to select 



candidates for local oifice, 
yotmger class of voters, 
by organization in the 
caucus, the means to en- 
force their demands of 
the controlling political 
powers, he gradually ex- 
tended his leadership to 
town meetings and finally 
to assembly district con- 
ventions. In a very few- 
months Jack Davies was 
recognized throughotit 
Oneida county — the home 
of Bosooe Conklin — the 
nursery of republican 
statesmen — as a factor 
which the republican 
leaders had always to deal 
with in making up their 
party programs. 

It was the Oneida 
county republican voters 
of the independ e n t, 
hustling stamp, — men of 
means, lawyers, trades- 
men, farmers — Avho in a 
body, three hundred 
strong, went to the re- 
jjublican state conven- 



where he offered the 



tion at Saratoga in the summer of 1898 and 
upset all party precedent in this state by substi- 
tuting their claims for the mandate of the organ- 
ization and triumphantly securing an important 
place on the state ticket for their candidate, Mr. 
Davies. The great victory at the election the 
following November, (1898) which started Theodore 
Roosevelt on the road to national honors, also gave 
Jack Davies the place of Attorney-General at Al- 
liany, and united these two men in a strong, 
mutual friendship. 

The courage as well as staying qualities of 
young Davies was conspicuously exhibited by that 
march on Saratoga, in view of the fact that in 1896, 
two years before, Mr. Davies and his friends were 
turned out of the convention of their party, owing" 
to his pernicious activity as an Oneida county 
"original McKinley man," W'ho, in 1896, stalked 
and captured the delegates in his own assembly 
district for the Ohio statesman. It was a 
political object lesson which was not lost in, the 
amen councils in New York. But Mr. Davies 
has all of his life been "a good hand," as his 
farmer friends say, at stalking delegates and so, 
when, in spite of his two years' campaign 
with a battle axe against the machine in 
Oneida county — a natural sequence with one of 
his aggressiveness — he brought back in '98 a de- 
termined looking lot of fellows, he commanded 
attention. 

His nomination stm-ed the pride of his fellow 
townsmen in Camden, as evinced by the illumin- 
ations and speech making that greeted his return 
home from Saratoga. The characteristic of 
American communities is local jjride, and Camden 
is not a whit behind any other place in that 
respect. 

That everybody in Oneida county had both eyes 
turned upon the second man to represent the 
county in an elective state office since the days of 
Horatio Seymour is not strange, and that he car- 
ried the county by 368 more votes than what the 
head of the ticket received, is what was to have 




Skinner, Photo. 



J. C. DAVIES- RESIDENCE. 



'GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



41 



been expected. Tlie total vote lie received in the 
state -was 654,167 against tlie democratic vote, 
641,691. His vote in his own town beat tbe record, 
his plurality being 630—99 ahead of Roosevelt. 
MeKinley's plnrality two years before (1836) was 
then the record lireaker in the tow n at 567 majority. 
Two years later, (19U0) having been renominated 
for Attorney-General without opposition, he re- 
ceived in the state the highest vote of any can- 
didate on the ticket, 8il,b88, as against 6S7,3i!l, 
the vote cast for his democratic opponent. 

At the convention which renominated Mr. 



action he so promptly took in reference to the 
Eamapo matter and the ice trust, his alert vigil- 
ance on behalf of the people, but he has, outside 
of the regular duties of the office, aided in every 
effort to secure better laws and better administra- 
tion of the law. In especial I shall never forget 
the action he took at the time of the enactment of 
the ii-anchise tax bill into a law, a law than which no 
other that has been enacted in this state in recent 
years will be more beneficial or of such vital im- 
portance. No man was more active than the At- 
torney-tTeneral in working for its passage at every 




H\iestcd, Phutii. 

Corner of the Library. 

Davies for Attorney-General, Gov. Roosevelt, 
taking the platform— an act which demonstrated 
more than anything else he could have done how 
strongly his Oneida county friend had grown into 
his affections — spoke as follows : 

' 'With all of the state officials I have been (in 
close and intimate terms, but of course more 
peculiarlv so with the Attorney-General, my offi- 
cial advisor. Not merely has the Attorney-General 
performed all of the duties pertaining to his office 
in a way that must (-hallenge the respect of every 
honest 'citizen, not merely has he shown by the 



Entrance to the Drawing Koom. 



.1. ('. DAVIES' ]i,ESIDENCE. 
Nook in the Drawing Room. 

stage, and it was the Attorney -General who first 
came to me with the news that it had passed." 

In Mr. Davies' library at home stands an im- 
l)erial size photo of President Roosevelt, a gift 
following that election, which came to him Nov- 
ember 22, 191)0, and in whi(^h betakes much pride. 
Across the l)()ttom is written in the President's 
own hand the following which needs no comment: 
"To the Hon. J. C. Davies, as faithful a public 
officer as he is staunch friend, from 

THEODORE ROOSEVELT." 

November 22, 1900." 

IConchidetl on pages 1)4 and IB] 



42 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Borrowed Photo. F. F. FIFIELD. 

F. F. Fifield was for many years a iDromment 
mercliant and leading citizen of Camden, who at 
the time he moved away had been engaged in 
business here thii'ty-foiu' years, a greater length 
of time than any of his contemporaries. He in 
company with his brother, F. D. Fifield, came to 
Camden from WilhamstowTi, N. Y , in 1818, and 
established the hai'dware business with which he 
was connected untU 188:^, and which is still c;u-- 
ried on by "W. H. Dorrance & Son. The Messrs. 
Fifield, while residents of William rtown, where 
they were m general business for two years ;ind 
handled lumber quite extensively, were among the 
original contractors in building the old Rome and 
Oswego plank road. Until 1869, when the brothers 
dissolved jsartnership, the hai-dware business was 
carried on under the name of F. F. Fifield & Co. 
Under the conservative management of Mr. F. F. 
Fifield, whose main purijose was to conduct a 
first-class hardware store, the business was made 
to succeed and became widely known and ijatron- 
ized. About ten years after coming to Camden 
the brothers in company Avith James E. Tripp, 
formed the firm of Tripp & Fiflelds and estabhshed 
(he Eagle foundry in which they were reijresented 
by F. D. Fifield who left the managemmt of the 
store exclusively with his lii'other. At the time of 
then- business dissolution, in 1869, F. D. Fifield 
reth-ed from the store and his brother severed his 
connection with tbe foundry. It was about a year 
latar, 1870, thatW. H. Dorrance, the senior mem- 
ber of the j:iresent firm, then a clerk in the store, 
l^urchased a part interest, the business being con- 
ducted for the following twelve years by Fifield & 
Dorrance. Mr. Fifield came to this secticm of the 
state from the east. He was born in Warner. N. 
H., Sept. 12, 1818. In 1883 he removed to New- 
ark, N. Y., where he died May 9, 18.)3, lieing in 
his seventy-fifth year. His wife siu'vlved him 
three year-, her death occurring at the home of 
her adopted daughter, Mrs. W. H. Dorr.mce. 



W. H. Dorrance, the senior partner in the 
hardware house of W. H. Dorrance & Son, en- 
tered the store as a clerk for F. F. Fifield when 
twenty-five years of age. On Sept. 28, 1868, he 
married Emma G., the adopted daughter of F. F. 
Fifield, and on Jan. 1, 1870, bought a one-half 
interest m the business of his f<ither-iu-law. Then- 
business steadily grew under the stimulating in- 
fluence of experience and push, drawing then as it 
does now, about all of the hardware trade of the 
viUage and tr.liutary sections of country. A few 
years later the enlargement of the store was de- 
manded owing to the greatly e.xpandmg volume of 
goods tint neee.ssarily had to be carried in stock 
in order to accommodate the demand, and in 1879 
the building was extended back forty additional 
feet, making the store altogether 20x110 feet. In 
1882 W. H. Dorrance bought his partner's interest 
and carried on the business alone until 1893, when 
his son, F. F. Dorrance, became a partner. It is 
now a large and completely equipped store with 
which is connected a repaii- and tin shop where all 
classes of work are done including the making up 
of fine tinware. The firm has kept up with the 
requirements of the time and does its share of the 
plumbing and furnace work of the town. It also 
devotes much of its time to the sale of agricul- 
tural implements, fertilizers and paints in their 
seasons, making a thorough canvass of Camden 
and adjoining towns and putting out in the course 
of the year a great deal of farm machinery. 

Mr. W. H. Dorrance, a son of D. G. Dorrance 
who is mentione.l elsewhere, was born in the town 
of Florence, Oneida county, N. Y., July 18, 1844. 
Upon leaving the puljlic school he attended the 
Whitestown Seminary and subsequently took a 
course of business instruction in Eastman's Com- 
mercial college at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He is a 
director of the Fii-st National bank of Camden, a 
member of the Masonic order and is identified with 
the Presbyterian chirrch. Mr. and Mrs. Dorrance 
have two sons, F. F. and John P. Dorrance and a 
daughter Bertha. F. F. Dorrance, the oldest, 
who is a partner in the store, was born at Cam- 
den, Sept. 11, 1869. After attending the pulilic 




Huested. Photo. W. H. IX.HiKANCE. 



'GBIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIB OF CAMDEN. 



43 




Hueste.1, Pboto. F. F. DORKANCE. 

.school of that viUage he took a classical course of 
three vears at the Cazenovia seminary where he 
1%'as graduated in 1889. Upon his return home he 

• entered the store as a clerk, taking a one- 
quarter interest in 1893. In 18t6 he ^va". 
admitted to an equal partner.ship with bis 
father and recently acquired an additional 
interest, since when he has taken the most 
actiye part in the management ot the busi- 
ness He was married Noy. 24, lb\)o, to 
Miss Minne Lohnes of Camden. Mr. John 
Dorrance is engaged in the canning Imsmess 
at Pennellyille, N. Y. 

George Elden's Recollections.- 'In 

my younger days elections [in Camden] oc- 
■ curredthis way. Three justices stood at the 
-altar of the Congregational church, using 
their hats for ballot boxes. Supervisor was 
yotecj for first, the votes "were counted and 
the declaration made, 'Gentlemen, you have 

made vour choice of Mr. for your 

supervisor for the ensuing year; yo^^ /7^Vi,-.ve 
now prepare your ballots tor town clerk. ilieie 
were probably 50 or 75 votes cast, no poll list 
lieiu"- kept, so it did not take long to get through. 
Curt'iss Pond, living on Mexico street was town 

■ clerk for fifteen or twenty years. Col. Israel 
Stoddard was the leading 
political man of the town, 
and for a time of the 

■ county. When he said 
he must be supervisor he 
had it; when he wanted 
the county judgeship he 
had it; and when he 
■wanted to go to the 

■ assembly he went. * * 
Later on came the politi- 

■ cal cyclone of Masonry 
and anti-Masonry. Then 

■ came the slavery ques- 
tion." 

CamdenTent ,No.395 
K. O. T. M., was (ii-giui- 

ized August 30, 1895, with 
ihe following charter 
member.s: Emory Lane. 
C. I. Durr, B. A. Horr, 



Geo Seelev. Edwin Eowe, W. E. Jones, H. L. 
Borland, W. B. Nesbitt, Horace Orr, W. C. Dal- 
ton J H. Littler, Geo. Schuster, C. W. Miller, 
Myron Simmons, Jr., C. H. Bowsam, Adelbert 
Laws, Enoch Simpldns, C. W. Bowsam, L. W. 
Vanwinkle, John Foley, John Pennington, A. A. 
Bavmond, C. B. Wilson, M. W. Willanson, 
Woodard Perkins, C. O. Biederman, S. H. Soo- 
ville, C. A. Yerdon, Frank Woodard and C. F. 
Ward. The following officers were elected: Past 
Commander, Emory Lane; Commander, C. J. 
Durr; Lieutenant Commander, W. B. Nesbitt; 
Eecord Keeper, Myron Simmons, Jr.; Finance 
Kee.^er, W. C. Dalton; Chaplin, Edwm B owe; 
Serg-eant, W. E. Jones; Physician, H. L.Borland, 
Master at Ai-ms, J. H. Littler; Fir.st M. ot &., 
Geo. Seelev;. Second M. of G. Chas. Bawsom; 
Sentinel, B. A. Horr; Picket, Horace Orr. The 
tent has lost one beneficiary member by deatfi, 
the late Sr. Kt. H. Baldwin, who died Aug lb, 
1901. The present membersnip is id. ine le- 




tkinntr. Photo. W. H. DUKRANCE & SON. 

views are held each Thursday in the Eoyal Arca- 
num hall. Opera House block. The officers 
elected for 1902 are: Past Commander, Lewie 
Perin; Commander, Wm. Quance; Lieutenant 
Commander, Sidney Garrow; E. Iv., A. J. iiay- 




Slunn.r, P.,oto. INTEmOK VIEW „F W. „. DORRANCE ^ SON'S STOKE. 



u 



'GKIP'S" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIR OF OAMDENl 




Huestfil, Photo. OFFICERS CAMDEN LODGE, No. 370, 
1, A. A. Raymond, ('. C; 3, C. F. Ware], V. C.- 3 C E. Ori 
¥-nrv \-A- "^^ Hornuna-, M. A.; 6, A. W. Abbott, Guard; 
8, O. A. Hunger, K. of H. and S.; 9, R. D. Gough, M. F.; 10. 

moncl; F. K., A. J. Eaymond; CliapJain, W. H. 
Skiniier; Sergeant, Harry Loomis; Physician, C. 
W. Shaver; M. at A., Chas. Keil; First M. of 
Ci., Fred B. Damon; Second M. of G., J. .Andrew 
Smith; Sentinel, Henry Qnance; Picket, Eugene 
Waterman. 

Camden Lodge, Knights of Pythias, No. 
370, was in.stituted Jan. IC. ISSt,"), wi h twenty five 
candidates. The first session of the lodge which 
worked the three ranks of knighthood, lasted for 
fourteen hours. The Order of the Knights of 
Pythias is of more than ordinary importance in 
this vicinity, a < the founder, Justus H. Eathbone, 



was a native of this county 
and is buried in the 
city of Utica, where his 
memory was honored two 
years ago by the erection 
of a gTand monument, 
toward which the lodges 
of every state in tlie 
union oontriliutel. The 
following is the h'st of 
charter members: Charles 
P. Ward, A. C. Hor- 
nuug, A. A. Eaymi nd, 
Ed. St. Mary,W. L. Por- 
ter, B. Jackson, James 
W. Stark, C. L. Eoberts, 

D. S. Tremain, Emory E. 
Lane, Chas. M. Tibbits, 
H. J. Newland, G. E. 
Shejaard, O. A. Pierce, C. 
J.Williams, C. J. Baeo-. 
L. H. Fmch, Edwin H. 
Stanford, GeorgeJ.Batcli- 
elor, J. W. Eoberts. C. 

E. Orr, Fred S. Gamble, 
O. A. Manzer, T. A. 
Farnsworth,W. C. Stone. 
The first officers, elected 
at its institution, were: C. 
C.,A. A. Eaymond; V.C, 
W. C. Stone; Prelate, C. 

C. F. Wai-d; K. E. S., O. A. 

A. C. Hornung; M. of E.,G.E. 

C. L. Eoberts; P. C, Emory 
Lane,T.A.Farnsworth, C. F.Ward, Geo. J. Batche- 
lor; trii.stees: three years, J. W. Eoberts, two yeai's, 
W. L. Porter, one'year, C. M. Tibbits; O. Gr., J. 
W. Stark; I. G., Ed. St. Marie; Eep., T. A. 
Farnswort'i; alternate, Emory Lane. There have 
been three deaths of members: George E. Shep- 
ard, George J. Batchelor and Eobert Truax. 
Among those who have held the office of chance- 
lor commander are : 1895, A. A. Raymond; 1896, 
W. 0. Stone; 1897, T. A. Farnsworth; 1898, W. 
L. Porter; 1899-1900, A. W. Abbott; 1901, E. D., 



K. of P., 1001. 
Pretntp: 4, C. L. Roberts, 
. H.H. Chapman, 
T. A. Farnswoi-tb. 



E. Orr; M. of W., 
Manzer; M. of P., 
Shepard; M. at A., 




Borrowed Photo. 



J. PARSON STONE POST, No. 483, G. A. R. 
Plioto taken at reunion. Decoration Day, 1898. 



[See sketch, P. 45 




'GBIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



45- 




Huestea, Photo. D. G. DOHKA.M K. 
Gough; 1902, A. A. Raymond. The meetmg.s are 
held in Ai-canum HaU the first and third Mon- 
day evenings of each month. Section No. 2987 
of the Endowment Ranlv, is loca'ed iii Camden 
and has a good membership. Tlie present officers 
are: President, R. D. Gough; vice president, Or- 
\-iIleA. Manzer; Secretary. Anthony W. Abbott; 
examuiing phvsician, H. W. Borland. The offi- 
cers of the lo"ge for the year 1902 ai'e: C. C, A. 
W. Raymond; V. C, C. F. Ward; M. of F., A. 
W. Abbott; M. of E., J. W. Stark; K. R. S., O. 
A. Manzer; M. at A., A. C. Hornnng; Prelate, R. 
D. Goiigh; trustee, A. W. Abbott; Rep., A. W. 
Abbott; alternate, C. F. Ward. 

J. Parson Stone Post, No. 482, G. A. R., 
was organized May 16, 1884, by the mustering ui 
of twelve charter members as follows: Chas. H. 
Ray, Henry G. Littler, Richard H. Gardner, 
Francis E. Townsend, Andrew J. Cook, Chas. H- 
Habershon, David L. Mann, Charles W. Blanch- 
ard, Solon C. Smith, Edward TOlinghast, Freder- 
erick Cain, Lorenzo 
Moyer. The officers were 
installed by Commander 
WUson Smith, of SkOleu 
Post, of Rome, N. Y., as- 
sisted by Chaplain Jones, 

S. V. C. Paddock and 

x^ssistant Inspector E. E. 

Van Slyke, also of Rome. 

The officers chosen were : 

Com., Chas. H. Ray; S. 

V. C, Chas. H. Haber- 
shon; J. V.C., Henry G. 

Littler; Q. M., Richard 

Gardner; O.D., Lorenzo 

Moyer; O. G., Francis 

Townsend; Surgeon, An- 
drew Cook; Chaplam, 

SolonSmith ; Adj 't. , David 

L. Mann; Sarg't., Major 

Frederick Cain; Q. M 

Sarg't,, Chas. Blanchard 

There have been in all 171 ykiimer. Photo. 



members; have lost by death and removal all biit 74. 
Present officers: Com.,WalterW.Elden; S.V.Com., 
Solon C. Smith; J. V. Com , PhUip E. Howland; 
Surgeon, Wm. MUler; Chap., Daniel Dimton; 
Adj't., John H. Chamberlain; Q. M., George W. 
Vandawalker; O. D., Joseph Waldron; O. G., 
Sam'l E. Rowe; Q. M. S., Chas. D. Lozier; S. M., 
J. A. Lane; Sent., Wm. B. Towle. 

D. G. Dorrance, Jr., came to Camden to re- 
side Oct. 1, 1875, and entered into partnership 
with his brother, J. G. Dorrance, who was con- 
ducting a general store in the "Dorrance Block," 
on the corner of Main and Mexico streets. This 
partnership continued only for a short time — until 
the spring of 1876— when J. G. Dorrance retired 
from the firm, having sold his interests to Geo. IT. 
Smith. The business was then continued under 
the firm name of Smith & Dorrance for about five 
years when Mr. Dorrance retired from the firm 
and entered into partnership with C. E. Orr in the 
grocery business under the firm name of Dorrance 
& Orr. This partnership continued for about 
three years when he purchased Mr. Orr's interest 
and then continued the business alone for -about 
two years. He then closed out to accept the position 
of confidential clerk for his father— -the late Daniel 
G. Dorrance— which position he held until his 
father's death, March 26, 1896. Since that time 
he has acted in the same capacity for the execu- 
tors of his father's estate. For this purpose he^ 
occupies an office in the bank, where he is always 
to be found during regular Irasiness hours. For 
the last fifteen years he has been a memlier of the 
Board of Education— the public schools having 
for him a more than a passing interest. At one 
time he occupied the position of one of the ' 'vil- 
lage fathers." As Justice of the Peace, which of- 
fice he held for twelve years, he was a member of 
the town board which built the town hall, a struc- 
ture which is a credit to the enterprise of the town 
and adds to the beauty of the village, and a work 
well done under the personal direction of the 
building committee and the memliers of the town 
board. Mr. Dorrance is one of the stocldiolders 
of the First National bank, is a member of the 
Presliyterian church and is secretary and treasurer 
of that organization. He was l)orn in Florence, 
N Y., on Februarv 28, 18.50. In 1859 his father's 




D. G. DORRANCE'S RESIDENCE. 



46 



'GBIP'S" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Huested, Photo. 



W. J. FRISBIE. 



family moved to Oneida Castle, Oneida Co., N. Y., 
where lie receiyed his education, preparatory for a 
college course, attending the public .schools of 
that village and the old Oneida seminary. Ke 
entered Hamilton college in 1868, from which he 
was graduated in 1872. On Oct. 4, 1876, he mar- 
ried Miss Ellen J. Lambie of Camden. Their 
children are Ella M., Eessie L., James G. and 
Harold S. 

Willard J. Frisbie of the Camden Knitting 
Company, is one of the most largely interested 
knitting mill men iu Central New York, in aU of 
which territory there is probably no other individual 
who has been as active in esta ii.shiug factories for 
that hne of production. In financuig an enterprise, 
it is said, there is no one more cajiable. In early 
life he had valuable ex- 
jjerience in banking ; 
later, in trade ; and flnaUy 
in manufactiu'ing. Cam- 
den, where he was l)orn 
AprO 14, 1818, lia.s always 
been his home and to pro- 
mote its commercial and 
social welfare he has ever 
been among the most 
active of its citizens. No 
man has ever responded 
more readily to all re- 
quests for his personal 
support of local enter- 
prises. He has been a 
member of the village 
board of trustees, where 
he could ahvays be de- 
pended upon to stand by 
Ijroposed improvement. 
He is also one of the 
principal stock holders 
and a du'ector of the 
opera house which he 
was active in causing to 
be erected by a eoinj)any Skinner, Photo. 



organized for that purpose. For several years he 
was a truste= of the Congregational ciiurch society. 
At the present time he is one of the trustees of the 
Cazenovia Semmary, and is President of the Cam- 
den Club. 

Mr. Frisbie owns considerable property iii and 
around Camden. His handsome brick residence 
on Main street is conceded to be second to no 
other in Oneida county for architectural and im- 
posing beauty. Its tower and gables jjresent a 
striking api^earance from the roads leading into' 
the village and can be seen at a considerable dis- 
tance out of town. When illuminated throughout, 
as it generaUy is in the evening when the family 
ai'e at home, it presents a cheerful and hospitable 
picture. The fui'nishings throughout are rich and 
tastefid. The decorations are of the same delight- 
ful order. 

Mr. Frisbie was educated at the Camden High 
school. At an early age he was for two years a 
clerk in the general store and post office kept by 
Earlier & Gamble in the Penfield block The 
position of ca.shier and book keeper in G. B. Mil- 
ler's department .store he occupied for a year, when 
he became book keeper and teller in the banking- 
house of H. F. Curtiss <t Co., a position he filled 
during the time of their successors, A. Ciutiss & 
Carman, remaining there altogether seven years. 

Alter that his history merges with that of the 
Camden Knitting Co., de.scribed on the opposite 
page. 

On October 18, 1870, Mr. Frisbie wedded Miss 
Emma S., the daughtei' of the late Albert Plielps, 
who was a prominent resident of Camden, the 
descendant of one of the early families in that 
vaUey. 

Mrs. Frisbie, a woman of literary taste, was one 
of the four enterprising ladies who compiled The 
Pioneer History of Camden, which is described 
elsewhere ui this work. A great deal of her time 
is devoted to literary Avork as well as social matters. 
Largely through her efforts the ijublic hbnuy was 
estabhshed. 

Mr. and Mrs. .Frisbie have one son, George 
Albert, who was born November 14, 1872. He 




W. .1. FltlSBIE'S RESIDENCE. 



■GRIP'S" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



47 



was educated at the Camden High School and Col- 
gateAcadeniy, Hamilton, N. Y., fromwhich school 
lie graduated with honors June 12, 1891. Choos- 
ing a commercial instead of a iwofessional cai'eei" 
soon after leaving school lie entered the office of 
t^^e Camden Knitting Company, where lie remained 
i oil the fall of 1895, when the Kendall Knitting 
Company was organized, of wliich he was ma le 
secretary, and he then removed to Utica, where he 
has resided since. During the past year he has 
moved into a fine residence which he bnUt on up- 
per Genesee street. At the piesent time he is the 
Treasurer of the Keudall Knitting Company, the 
Regal Textile Company and the Richelieu Knit- 
ting ComxJany of Utica and the Oneida Hosiery 
Company of Oneida, and is also member of the 
Utica Paper Rox Company. On October 14, 1896, 
he married Miss Ahce Irene Owen of Camden, and 
they have one sou, Owen Phelps Frisbie, born Oc- 
tober 28, 1897. 

Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Frisbie also have one 
daughter, Ruth Lucde, who was born November 
24, 1885. 



tion of different companies who were selected be- 
cause of theii' business ability and special fitness 
for the particular line of goods the several mills 
produce. 

With the large capital which Frisbie & Stansfield 
command and the facilities this firm possesses, the 
aggregate output of these mills annually is enor- 
mous. 

There are seven, including a iiaper box factory 
that manufactures all the boxes used hi the mills, 
and a large quantity, as weU, which is sold to 
other establishments. 

Each is conducted independently of the other so 
far as management goes and produces a special 
line of its own. The goods from all of these fac- 
tories are sold to the leading jobbing houses all 
over the United States, that branch of the busi- 
iiess being in charge of one general salesman, and 
their combined pay roUs, with an aggregate of 
about a thousand employes, distribute thousands of 
doU;u'S in weekly and monthly payments m three 
of the most populas counties in Central New York. 

The Camden Knitting Company, from which 




( ,.|,ii-.l Iniin prinl. THE CAMDEN K 

The Camden Knitting Co. -The Camden 
knit goods industry is the parent from which there 
has sprung within the past ten or eleven years a 
cordon of mills stretching across Central New 
York that prodiice annually an immense quantity 
of knit goods. The loucdtrs, and today the prin- 
cipal owners, are W. J. Fri',bie, of Camdeo, N. Y., 
and W. H. Stansfield, of Syracuse, N. Y., who, 
from a small begiunmg and a hmited amount of 
capital, Ijut with pusu and business fores ght, 
without which such marvelous results could not 
have been obtained, have from year to year 
erected new mills in lociihties most favorable for 
carrying out the details ot tbeir plans. 

In some cases the sole ownership of difl'erent 
mnis has been retained by Frisbie & Stansfield. 
In other cases the firm has incorporated itself as 
the principal iiait of a new company, lieing asso- 
ciated with different individu.ds in the organiza- 



these mdls have sprung, established in 1878 under 
the firm name of Frisbie & Stansfield and re- 
organized Feb. 1, 1891, with Charles F. Kendall 
as the thu-d partner, produces union suits of un- 
derwear for ladies, notably those wliicli have ob- 
tained a wide reputation iinder the trade name, 
"The Florence." Mr. KendaU died in 1898 ai'd 
Messrs. Frisbie and Stansfield are now the .sole 
proprietors. This comxi'iny gives employment to 
about two hundred people. 

The t'lintou Knitting Co. of Syracuse, Frisbie 
& Stansfield proprietors, was estaiilished in 189:! 
lor the manufactme of ribbed underwear and it 
now has about two hundred eniiloyes. 

The Kendall Knitting Co. of Utica. was estaii- 
lished ill 189.5. W. J. Frisbie is the president, W. 
H. Stansfield, vice president, G. A. Frisbie, treas- 
urer and C. A. Ryington secretary and niiiuiiger. 
The goods manufactured are ladies' and children's. 



48 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Huested, Photo, 

MRS. EMMA PHELPS FRISBIE, 
Regent CiiuHlt-n Chap., D. A. R. 

riblied tiuderwear. Three liuuclred people are em- 
jdoyed here. 

The Regal TextOe Co. of Utica, established in 
1899, also employs about two hundred hands, 
producing ladies' and children's fleece back, ribbed 
vests, pants and union suits. The officers are : 
W. J. Frisbie, president; E. I. Good-ich, vice 
president; Geo. A. Frisbie, treasm-er; C. A. By- 
ington, secretary. 

The Oneida Hosiery Co. of Oneida, N. Y., 
founded in WOO, employs aliout a hundred peo- 
ple and produces seamless hosiery. W. J. Fris- 
bie, president; G. A. Frisbie, treasurer; J. F. Bur- 
ton, vice president and salesman and C. H. Oakes, 
secretary and manager. 

The Richelieu Knitting Co . of Utica, estab- 
lished 1901, produces high grade ladies' and chil- 
dren's hght weight summer underwear. There are 
about one hundred emi^loyes. C. A. Byingtou is 
the president, W. J. Frisltie, vice president. G. A. 
Frisbie, treasurer and WUliam J. McQuade, secre- 
tary and manager. 

Utica Paper Box Co. of Utica, establislisd in 
1902, employs seventy-live people. AV. J. Fris- 
bie, W. H. Stansfield, G. A. Frisbie and C. A. 
Byington are the p)'oprietors. 

These mills manufacttu'e more ladies' ribbed un- 
derwear than any other concern in the world. 

The history of Messrs. Frisbie and Stan.stield's 
a,chievements is interesting, both as a recital of 
incidents conspicuous in local chronology and as 
illustrating the remarkable success accomplished 
in a comparatively short time. 

The two began business as jiartners, an associa- 
tion which has lieeu maintained without interrup- 
tion for al)out thirty years. On Dec. 1, 1873, thev 
formed a co-partnership in Camden where theV 
both resided and purchased the dry goods business 
of Ct. B. Miller, who then occupied a store in the 
Curtiss block. 

They disposed of the liusiness April 1, 188i, to 
C. A. and A. C. Phelps, to enable them to devote 
their whole attention to manufacturing, they hav- 
ing, in 1878, begun the manufacture of knit goods, 
such as leggins, scarfs, mittens, etc., in the build- 
ing at the foot of 'Third street, known as the 



Huyck woolen factory, which they had leased for 
that purpose. They had also, in the meantime, ' 
placed hand knitting machines in the top story of 
the Barnes block, where by this means they were 
able to increase their ]jroduction and where they 
also occu2Jied an additional floor, giving them space 
in which to finish and ship all of the goods manu^^- 
factured in both jjlaces. 

But still they found they had not room enough » 
and were considerably short of the facilities which 
they required in order to accommodate all of the 
trade that was in sight. So, in the spring of 1883 
they bought a tract of ground at the foot of Ma- 
sonic avenue where they at once erected a three- 
story building, 72x36 " feet, to which they soon 
after made a three-story addition, 30x60 feet. 
They moved into the new building as soon as it 
was completed and the following year disposed of 
their dry goods business as above' stated. 

This change was made the occasion for adding 
seamless hosiery to their productions and also for 
the manufacture of ladies' and children's ribbed 
underwear, which was then in its infancy. In- 
deed, Frisbie & Stansfleld were among the first to 
place that line to any extent upon the market. 
This lead, in fact, at once opened up such a wide 
field for their productions that they have since 
then gradually dropped the manufacture of leg- 
gins, scarfs and mittens. 

Their new works consisting of mill and dye and 
store house, which were run l)y steam power, were 
then supposed to be adequate for the needs of the 
firm for some time to come. Very soon, however, 
it was deemed desirable to manufacture yarn for 
their own use, which would demand more room. 
Their manufacturing had also increased to the ex- 
tent that it was plain they would eventually be 
driven from theu- new quarters for lack of accom- 
modations. 

Accordingly, when the opportunity was finally 
offered, they bought the Costello tannery proiJ- 
erty at the foot of Main street, a considerable 
tract of ground laying along the south shore of 
Fish creek, upon which sfood, liesides the half a 
dozen tenement houses tliat are still there, the old 




Huested, Photo. MRS. ELLA M. CONANT, 
Present Regent Camden Chap., B. A. H. 



'GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



49 




Borrowed Photo. 

MRS. MARY MOWER BALDWIN. 
Keal Daugiiter of the Rt-volution. 

tannerv building, a two-story sti-uetui-e, 214x42 feet. 

This for the time being afforded a place for their 
yarn mill. Bitt they had also, through theii' sales- 
man, Mr. Charles F. Kendall, got into a jol)bing 
Irasiness. The firm of C. F. Ivendall & Co., Fris- 
1 )ie ir Stansfield being the company, was organized 
and a three-story lirick edifice, 150x40 feet, which 
is now the main factory building standing along- 
side of Main street, was erected for the rise of the 
joliliing business. 

On February 1, 1891, it having been decided to 
make some important changes, the firm leased the 
Masonic avenue proiaerty to the Corbin Cabinet 
Lock Works, and together with Mr. Charles F. 
Kendall organized the Camden Knitting Co., the 
jobbing firm of C. F. Kendall & Co. being dis- 
solved and the jobbing business, to be conducted 
after that by the comjjany, removed to Syracuse. 
Mr. Kendall's connection with the business, both 
as a partner and as its salesman, continued np to 
the time of his death, which occurred at Cincin- 
nati in January, 1898. Messrs. Frisbie and 
Stansfield purchased his interest and have since 
carried on the business as eqtial owners and sole 
proprietors. Mr.E. I. Goodrich, of NeA\' York, suc- 
ceeded Mr. Kendall as general salesman in charge 
of selling the products of all the mills, a position 
he still occupies. 

An addition to the yarn mill was constructed: a 
mill for manufacturing seamless hosiery, and the 
big building on Main street was taken for manii- 
facturing underwear. 

On the afternoon of March 23; 1833, tire cleaned 
out ]5art of the plant which then consisted of six 
liuildings, destroying the yarn and hosiery mills 
and the store house. The fire is supposed to have 
been started by a sparli strucl^ fi'om a jjiece of 
knitting needle which, having lodged in inrtam- 
able stock, had passed into the moA'ing machinery. 

The company at once replaced the burned struc- 
tures with more modern buildings, dropping the 
manufacture of yarn and hosiery and devoting all 
of its facilities to the ])roditction of riblied under- 
weav. This at last led to the manufacture at these 
mUls of "The Florence" union .suits exclusivelv. 



During the early part of the year 1893 Mr. Wil- 
liam H. Stansfield removed to Syracuse to look 
after the jobbing branch of the business, which was 
continued until 1894, when this branch of the 
business was closed out-and the Clinton Knitting- 
company was established. Mr. Stansfield now 
owns and occupies one of the finest residences of 
Syracuse. He is president of the Salt Springs 
National banlv. and is also largely interested in 
several other enterprises, in and about Syracuse, 
outside of the knit goods business. 

The Camden Knitting Co. 's plant now comprises 
five brick Iniildings and the office which is located 
in a neat, spacious building of itself, connected 
^^■ith the others by telejjhone. 

The main buikling, three stones and basement, 
40x1.50 feet, contains the knitting machines. There 
are also the store house, 42x110 feet, the dry house 
and machine shop, and the boiler and the dye and 
bleach houses. There are both water and'steam 
power, the former cajpable of furnishing forty 
horse power. The engines are 50, 35 and 30 hor.se 
jiower. All of the buildings, as well as Mr. 
Frisbie's residence are lighted by a 650 light 
dynamo. 

'During the year of 19;)1 the exports from the 
several mills included in the Frisbie & Stansfield 
system included large shipments to England, 
South Africa and Australia. Although it was the 
first year of exports from these factories the ag- 
gregate amount sent al )road is considered an indica- 
tion of a large export business in the near future. 

The Camden Chapter D. A. R. was organized 
Nov. 16, 1896, through the efforts of Mrs. Ella M. 
Conant, who invited a few ladies whom she thought 
would be interested in forming a Chapter, on the 
above date, to meet at her home Miss Mary I. 
Forsyth of Kingston, N. Y., who was State Eegent 
at this time. The chapter was organized with 
sixteen charter memtiers and Mrs. Conant as Ee- 
gent. She a2)pointed the following officers to 
serve one yeai-: Vice regent, Mrs. W. .T. Frisbie; 




I-Jort'owud L'lil, 

J[KS. HARRIET ALLEN WE.ST. 
Late Keal Daiiyliter ol' the Revohitio 



50 



■GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Hucstca Photo. AUTHOKS AND PUBLISHERS CAMDENS PIONEER HISTORY 

Mrs. E. H. Conant, [See .sketch P. .52. 

- Mrs. W. J. Frisbie, Mrs. E. Edio. Mrs. E. T. Pike. 

seci-etai-T, Miss S. Lucy Miller; treasurer, Mrs. E. 
H. Conant; registrar, Mrs. Clara Harvey Stoddard ; 
liistorian, ]Mrs. E. Edie; board of uuxnagement, 
Mrs. E. T. Pike, Mrs. Su.san B. Cromwell and 
Mrs. E. C. Case. Tlae first work of the Chapter 
was to mark in a suitable manner the graves of 
the thirtv-three Revolutionary patriots who are 
buried in the town. After due consideration it 
was decided to erect a suitable monument to lie 
placed in the iNIexico Street Cemetery with the 
names of all the Revolutionary heroes uijon it. In 
November, 1S98, Mrs. W. .7. 'Frisbie was elected 
Regent of the Chapter. A fund of $300 was raised 
for°a monument which, on July 4, 1899, was un- 
veiled by Mrs. Mary Mower Baldwin, an aged and 
highly respected lady and a real Daughter of a 
Revolutionary soldier and a memlier of the Cam- 
den Chapter. 

The monument is of Quincey granite and is 
beautiful and massive. 

It was manufactured at 

the shop of N. Salladin 

in this village. The 

work of lettering is a 

model of neatness and 

good taste. The base is 

comi^osed of two blocks. 

One is thii-ty - eight 

inches square by six- 
teen inches thick; the 

other is thu'ty - five 

inches square by twelve 

inches thick, they are 

surmounted by a shaft 

thirty-six inches high, 

twenty - four inches 

square at the bottom 

and twenty-three inches 

at the top. The whole 

is seven feet high. In 

June, 1900, the Chapter 

placed a pole about fifty 

feet in height, surmount- 
ed by a gilt ball, near 

the monument and on 



July 4th of the same- 
year, a beautiful bunting- 
flag, eight by twelve 
feet, was unfurled in 
commemoration of the. 
Revolutionary soldiers 
in the town. A pleasing- 
feature of the program 
at this ceremony was the 
l^resence of the veterans 
of the civil war. On 
this occasion Rev. Rich- 
ard Al)bott gave a very 
able address upon Our 
National Flag. The 
Revolutionary heroes 
whose service this mon- 
ument commemorates 
and whose names are 
engraved upon it, are 
Daniel Parke, David 
Wood, Elijah Baley, 
Aaron Seth Rice, Beriali 
Pond, Ichaliod Brown, 
Jonah Sanford, Lemuel 
Steadman, S a m u e 1 
Wood, Zophar Barnes, 
Jesse Penfield, Col. Joseph Johnson, John Cain, 
Ashbel Upson, Noah Preston, Timothy Wood, Jona- 
than Harvey, William Stevens, Capt. John Wilson, 
Maj. Jesse Curliss, Jonathan Barnes, Eliphalet 
Johnson, TheophilusWhaley. These men, who with 
the exception of three emigrated from the state of 
Connecticut, did valiant service for their country 
as the records show. Levi Mnnson had five sons 
who also served in the war of the Revolution. 
The Chapter is much interested in the Camden 
free public librarv, contributing to it both money 
and books, and has, within the last year, had set 
apart a space which it is filling with Colonial and 
Revolutionarv books of historv, records and fiction. 
On Februarv"2, 1902, at the home other daughter, 
Mrs. Ira J. Howland, occurred the death of Mrs. 
Harriet Allen West, the Camden Chapter's oldest 
original Daughter of the American Revolution, 
^Ih' Inniiiu ii;i-^. d Inr niuetv-eighth birthday. 




Huostcd, Photo. 

Miss Ruth FrisWe, 



THE yn VIVE (Lri). 

Miss .Tennie Low. 
Miss Estelle Rheubottom, 



[See sketch P. .51. 
Miss Ruth Stone. 



'GRIP'S" HISTOEIOAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



51 




HiiesTed, Photo. 



W. T. STEVENS. 



Slie was, a daughter of Benjamin Alien, a Eevolu- 
tionary patriot, who was a brother of Col. Ethan 
Allen,' of Ticonderoga fame. Her husband, Leon- 
ard West, was a soldier of the war of 1812, who 
died October, 1888. Mrs. Mary Mower Baldwin, 
daughter of Peter Mower, was born at Danube, 
Herkimer county, N. Y., November .5, 1814. Peter 
Mower served two years as a private in the New 
York State troops under Capt. Putnam and Col. 
MiUett. Each of these real daughters has been 
presented with a gold spoon by the National So- 
ciety, D. A. E. The Chapter is in a very flourish- 
ing condition at present date (May, 1902) 
having a membership of seventy-six, Mrs. EUa 
M. Conant being its present Regent. The other 
officers are: Vice regent, Mrs. E. H. Conant; 2nd 
vice regent, Mrs. Flora M. Borland; secretary. 
Miss Ella M. Dorrance; corresponding secretary, 
Mrs. E. C. Case; treasurer, Mrs. 
W. I. Stoddard; registrar, Mrs. E. 
T. Pilse; historian, Mrs. Susan B. 
Cromwell; board of management, 
Mrs. B. D. Stone, Miss S. Lucy 
Miller and Mrs. L. J. Aldrich. 

Qui Vive Club.— EuthFrisbie, 

Euth Stone, Estelle Eheubottom 
and .Jennie Low are the young gii-ls 
who compose the membership of 
this organization. The first plan 
was to meet for pleasure, but after 
mature thought it seemed lietter 
to improve their time to some ad- 
vantage. It was decided to raise 
money for the liljrary. So they 
gave little entertainments, selling 
tickets to the same at five cents 
each. They played to full audi 
ences and the enthusiasm was siich 
as would have turned older heads. 
Boys and girls of all ages were then- 
patrons and were not critics. 
They raised the sum of twelve 
dollars in four efforts. Ten dollars sicinncr, Plioto. 



was given to the libraiy, which drew a duplicate 
ten dollars from the state, the members of the 
club sending in a list of the books they wished 
purchased with the money. The remainder they 
gave to aid an unfortunate family. 

Walter T. Stevens, in 1898, established an 
agency for handling real estate and for writing up 
fire, life and accident insurance. His office, fitted 
up at that time, is next to the postofflce. From 
the start the business was good and it has in- 
creased each year since. Now it is known as one 
of the sound and substantial business ventures of 
Camden. Mr. Stevens is quite extensively inter- 
ested in village real estate and owns several build- 
ings in town, including business blocks and resi- 
dences. He is one of the oldest among the pre- 
sent memliership of the local Masonic lodge, as he 
joined the order in 1868. All of his life a resident 
of Camden, where he was born, he is widely 
known throughout all of that section. His father, 
Martin H. Stevens, came to Camden from Nauga- 
tuck, Ct., in 1826, being then in his twentieth 
year. For several years he followed cabinet mak- 
ing, his shop which was afterwards liurned, stand- 
ing on Main street south of the present Stevens 
building. His father's business, started in 183.5, 
passed into the hands of W. T. Stevens in 1860, it 
having in the meantime been enlarged so as to 
take in furniture and caskets, which at that time 
were altogether made by hand by local under- 
takers. Mr. Stevens, who had still further en- 
larged the business by adding house furnishing 
goods, in 1867 erected the building now occupied 
by Williams & Norton, with a corner office both 
for them and Mr. Stevens. In this place the lat- 
ter carried on his business until 1893 when he sold 
out to the present occupants. In the early days 
when the boys ran with the machine, Mr. Stevens 
was an ardent fireman. On May 20, 1863, he 
married Lene M. Norton and they have one child, 
Grace Ii-ene, who on July 3, 1893, was wedded to 
the Eev. Eobert Tufft, and who has now a pleas- 
ant home in Philadelphia. 




W. T. STEVENS' RESIDENCE. 



-52 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Borrowed Phot.,1.^. A. C. PHELPS. 
The Camden Pioneer History .- 

dnriuK the year cii' 189i it ^\as tViniul that mnch 
Ijertaining to the earlier days of Camden was fast 
passing into oblivion and tliat unless some means 
Avere taken to preserve what was then obtainable 
of old records and other paper.s all would soonbe 
lost. It was thought the best way to preserve 
these was to compile a history of the town. Pour 
ladies, Mrs. W. J. Frisbie, Mrs. E. Edic, Mrs. E. 
H. Conant and Mrs. E. T. Pike, all of whom were 
born in and are residents of Camden, undertook 
the arduous task which entailed unremitting lalior 
for two years. The work was tedious but well 
done as all mirst admit. It was not undertaken 
with any view of a financial gain but simply for 
the love of the old town and to preserve for others 
what could at the time be found of its earliest his- 
tory. Those who have perused its pages can best 
understand and know something of the time and 
labor it took to compile such a volume, for which 
too much credit cannot be given these ladies . This 
book is daily becoming more valuable and even 
to-day some records which it contains would have 
Ijeen lost forever if they had not been secured at 
the time they were. The older citizens \\ho gave 
valualile information, have passed from earth. 
This history is a most valuable record book and 
will be of untold value to those who are to follow 
the present generation. Much of the success of 
founding so large a Chapter of the Daughters of 
theAmericanRevolution in Camden is due to these 
four ladies, as it was they who in their researches 
found that thu-ty-three Revolutionary patriots 
were buried in the" town, and had the military ser- 
vice of each recorded in the history. The book is 
a far greater momrment to these daughters of 
Camden than any granite talilet. 

C. A. & A. C. Phelps. — Charles A. and Al- 
bert Case Phelps are sons of the late Mr. Albert 
Phel[is, and grandsons of the jjioneer, Benjamin 
Phelps, who came from Simsbury, Conn., in ISOU, 
and located on the McOonnellsville road three 
miles south of Camden village. In the sul)stan- 
tial lirick structirre which has its place in the 
mi'nory of older residents as the "Phelps Home- 



stead" they were born — Albert C, on 

June 2, 1859, and Charles A. , on June 

21, 1857. Their mother was a lady of 

gentle bu'th, Mai-tha Lothrop, dairghter 

of Jessie Fish, of Williamstown, New 

York — one of seven sisters, of more than 

usual intelligence. To her children she 

devoted her time largely, imijartiug of 

her superior character to them that which 

would serve them in after years. Their 

youth was spent on the homestead until 

iier death in 1880, and that of an elder 

lirother, Benjamin, in 1882. The farm 

was sold to the present occupant, Mr. 

Douglass Hirbbard, Ai:iril 1, 1881, when 

ihey purchased the dry goods stock and 

trade of Messrs. Frisbie and Stansfleld, 

an established brrsiness of j'ears standing. 

With the above firm, Albert, or "Bert" 

Phelps as he is more familiarly known, 

spent a year or more learning the ways 

of the trade. In 1880 he married Miss 

Ida M. Penfield, a resident of Camden. 

In 1887 Charles married Miss Harriet E. 

J'lattoon, of Albany, New York. Their 

place of business at the time of the pur- 

C A PHBLPP. chase was the .store now occupied byDaniel 

Some time Grimmins as a clothing store, on the east side 

of Main street, where the business was continued 

until 1890, when they purchased the fine brick 

store on the West side of Main street next to 

the First National Bank, which was originally 

Iniilt by G. S. Wetmore for a drug store. 

After making the necessary changes they removed 

then- business to this building which they still 

occupy. For sixteen years their stock consisted 

of dry goods, notions, carpets and wall paper, but 








skinner 
C. 



Pliolo. 
A ..t A. 



C. PHELPS- DKV GOODS STORE. 



'GKIP'S" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



53 




Borrowed Cut. GEOKGE TROWBRIDGE. 

in 1900 they added a clioioe lino of hotisehold fiir- 
iiitui-e which has proven a gratifying acquisition 
to theii' business. Albert — the junior member of 
the firm — makes frequent trips to New York for 
the selection of desu'able stock. Miss Margaret 
C. Eobson is a highly valued assistant, whose 
judgment is sought by proprietor and customer 
alike. She has been associated with the business 
for a period of upwards of thii'ty years and is 
courteous and obliging to an unusual degree. She 
is of Scotch parentage and Canadian birth, faith- 
ful and earnest in serving her employers. 

George Trowbridge was one of Camden's 
early merchants, coming here in 1826 from Pom- 
Iret," Conn., and engaging in business with his 
brother Artemas. Theii- store stood on Main street, 
nearly opposite Washington. 
Later the Irailding was 
moved down to the corner 
of Main and Mexico streets. 
Mr. Trowbridge was iden- 
tified with the schools of the 
town for many years, hold- 
ing the office of school 
superintendent. He wa^ 
one of the first village 
assessors after its incorpor- 
ation in 1831 and was clerk 
of the board of trustees of 
the village for thu'teen con- 
secutive years. For many 
years he was agent for wild 
land in Camden, Vienna and 
Florence. He was an active, 
energetic and influential 
citizen. The homestead Mr. 
Trowbridge built on 1827, 
on the corner of Main and 
Washington streets. It is 
now owned by his children 
and outwardly is the same 
as when first built. He was 
anarried in 1828 to Miss Borrowed Cut. 



Juliana Allin. He was born at Pomfret, Conn., 
Aug. 11, 1796, and died at Camden Sept. 23, 1888. 
His wife was born at Providence, R. I., May 20, 
1805, and died at Camden March 24, 1892. Their 
children areChas. Edward, of Whitinsville, Mass., 
Mrs. Julia A. Chubbuch, of New Torlv city and 
Wm. Henry and Mrs. Elizalieth T. Pike, of Cam- 
den. A son, George Frederick, died in 1871, 
aged 25 years. 

The Ladies' Aid Society of the Methodist 
church. — There is in existence a pulpit biV)le on the 
fly leaf of which is written "Methodist Episcopal 
chm-ch, Camden. Presented by the Ladies' of the 
Sewing Society, April 1st, 1846. " We do not find 
any record of a ladies' society until August 17, 1859, 
when an organization was effected to be called the 
Half Dime Society of the M. E. chiu'ch in Cam- 
di n. Officers chosen were: President, Mrs. 
Iho.uas Demilt Penfleld; Vice Presidents, Mrs. 
Frankhn Washbm-n, Mrs. David Sears; Secretary 
and Treasurer, Mrs. Washburn. Mrs. Pen- 
field was president for thirteen consecu- 
tive years. In 1866 the name was 
changed to Dime Society and still agam in 1878 
to Ladies' Aid Society. The following have 
seivei as officers: Presidents — Mrs. T. D. Pen- 
field, Mrs. H. M. Danforth, Mrs. Thos. Richie, 
Jlrs. A. L. York, Mrs. W. K. Cobb, Mrs. E. A. 
Harvey, Mrs. W. A. Stoddard, Mrs. M. Tipple, 
Mrs. Clara Harvey Stoddard, Mrs. A. C. Phelps, 
Mrs. Walter C. Stoddard, Mrs. Dewitt T. Wood, 
Mrs. Myron Simmons, Mrs. B. A. Curtiss. Vice 
Pre.sident.s — Mrs. F. Washburn, Mrs. A. W. 
WUder. now Sanford, Mrs. T. D. Penfield, Mrs. 
W. D. Wood, Mrs. Melzar P. B. Cook, Mrs. E. 
A. Harvey, Mrs. J. D. Chamberlain, Mrs. M. 
Tipple, Mrs. J. Rush, Mrs. Sarah Broughton, 
Mrs. W. W. WilHams, Mrs. M. Simmons, Mrs. 
David Sears, Mrs. B. A. Curtiss, Mrs. G. C. 
Huyck, Mrs. W. Mis, Mrs. S. S. McCaU, Mrs. B. 
N. BaeU, Mrs. J. M. Orth, Mrs. W. A. Stoddard, 
Miss H. L. Bii-d, Mrs. Mary L. Eldeu, Mrs. O. H. 
Kniflin, Mrs. Geo. Stoddard, Mrs. D. T. Wood, 
Mrs. Mattie Adams, Mrs. A. C. Phelps, Mrs. O. 




THE TROWBRIDGE HOME. 



54 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Huested, Plioto. A. C. WOODRUFF. 
H. Pierce, Miss Jennie Spencer, Mrs. C. J. Bacon, 
Mrs. W. J. HiiU, Mrs, E. E. Dempsey, Mrs. W. 
E. Patohen, Mrs. S. H. Weed, Mrs. W. A. Park, 
Mrs. Dana Ward, Mrs. F. N. Cliristian, Mrs. W. 
E. Stone, Mrs. McAdam, Mrs. A. Brown, Mrs. 
N. WTiitcomb, Mrs. H. H. Cliapman, Mrs. A. 
H. Vandawalker, Mrs. Frank Woodard, Mrs. 
James Dunlop, Mrs. Jolin H. Cook. Secretaries 
— Mrs. Washbiu-n, Miss MoUie Barber, Mrs. M. 
Elden, Miss Hattie L. Bii'd, Mrs. O. H. Knifleii, 
Miss Mary Tripp, Miss Minnie Simmons. Mrs. (i. 
C. Huyck, Miss Helen M. Tipple, Miss FideHa 
Dick, ' Mrs. H. T. Skerritt. Treasiu-ers— Mrs. 
Wasbbm-n, Mrs. M. E. Cook, Miss Orelia Steele, 
Miss M. Simmons, Mrs. 
C. Palmer, Mrs. 31. 
Elden, Miss Hattie L. 
Bii-d, Mrs.H. J. Newland, 
Mrs. B. A. Ciirtiss. The 
present officers are: Pres- 
ident, Mrs. Martin Tiiiple ; 
Vice Presidents, Mrs. H. 
H. Cliapman, Mrs. Walter 
C. Stoddard, Mrs. Caro- 
line P. Harvey, Mrs. E. 
C. Knapp. Secretary, 
Miss Fidelia Dick. Treas- 
ui-er. Miss H. L. Bu'd. 



Arthur Cleveland 
Woodruff, a leading 
memlier ol' tbe legal 
fraternity in Camden, -svas 
admitted to the bar at 
Bufialo, June 13, 1873, 
and began the pi-actice of 
law in Camden in partner- 
ship with George K. 
Carroll, with whom he was 
associated for three years. 
For about twenty years 
he has been an active 
member of the Oneida 



county bar association and, although a democrat, 
has occupied several important public positions. 
For the past eighteen years he has been a member 
of the village board of education, of which he is at 
the present time the secretary. He served as 
magistrate twelve years, was on the water coni- 
mission five years, soon after the system was in- 
stalled, the last year serving as president of the 
board, and was vUlage trustee for several terms. 
During his term as president of the village, 1891, 
a special election was held, by which the extension 
of the water mains was ordered. Mr. Woodi-uff 
was one of the incorporators of the opera house 
association, the organization of which, in which he 
w-as most active, has given the village a commodi- 
ous and attractive place of amusement. During 
twenty consecutive years he filled the picsition of 
vestryman of Trinity Episcopal church where he is 
at the present time a warden. 

Beginning the practice of his profession with 
one of the "older members of the bar, a lawyer 
A\idely known in the county, and continuing to 
the present time with a practice that has steadily 
grown and has usually been rewarded with success, 
Mr. Woodruff, todayi has a widely extended law^ 
business. His acquaintanceship throughout the 
county, in which he has to his credit a longer period 
of practice than any other Camden lawyer, and 
his thorough knowledge of the many large estates 
in this vicinity places him in the position where he 
is al>le to attend promptly and intelligently to all 
requests for information' of that character which 
may be desired by parties living outside of the 
county. 

Mr. Woodruff was born in Camden, June 13, 
1851, and with the exception of the time he was 
pursuing his studies and preparing himself for his 
profession, his whole life has been devoted to his 
prai'tice in that village. At the close of his studies 
in the Camden school he attended the Union 
academv at Belleville, N. Y., and from there went 
to the Lowville, N. Y., academy, where he was 
graduated in 1870. The next three years were de- 




Chapin, Photo. 



A. ('. WiioDUUFF'S RESIDENCE. 



'GBIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



55 




Borrowed Photo. GEORGE K. CARROLL. 

voted to the study of law, principally in the office 
of George K. Carroll. After an association of three 
years with the latter gentleman, Mr. Woodrnif 
jJiirsued his practice until 1883, when his brother, 
Eben C, became a partner. This arrangement 
was terminated by the retirement of the latter 
from a business copartnership, January 1, 1895. 

On Christmas day, 1880, Mr. Woodruft' married 
Theresa A., the daughter of George K. Carroll, 
Mr. Woodrutt"s legal preceptor. They have two 
sons, George Carroll Woodruff', born February 9, 
1885, and Laurence Abbott Woodruff', born Nov- 
ember 25, 1888. Mr. Woocb-uff's father was Dr. 
Hurll;)ert H. Woodruff", a graduate of Trinity Col- 
lege, Hai'tford, Ct. , who came to Camden in 1850 
and opened the first store in the village devoted 
exclusively to the sale of drugs. He was in active 
practice until his death, which occurred in Cam- 
den, Nov. 2, 1881, he being-then in his fifty-seventh 
year. His wife, Calista Alibott, the daughter of 
Eben Abbott an American officer in the war of 
1812 who settled in Camden in 1840, died Nov- 
ember 27, 1895, being sixty-eight years of age. 
Besides the two brothers now living in Camden, 
their children incliide Marietta (Mrs. E. Wagner) 
and H. C. Woodruff, both living in Troy. 

Robert Prazier, M. D., who was born at 
Bethleliam, Albany Co., N. Y., Feb. 17, 1817, was 
for many years one of the distinguished practicing 
2>hysicians of Oneida county. Coming to Camden 
about 1858 he at once sprung into jjublic notice as 
a man possessing a strong, impressive character 
and many sterling qualities. It was about 1839 
or '40 when he settled at McConnellsville, where 
he first began the practice of his profession and 
where four or five years later he married Miss 
Theresa McConnell, having been graduated at the 
Vermont Medical academy, Castleton, Vt., in 1839. 
His professional skill, excellent disposition and 
iTUselfish devotion to duty soon attracted to him 
numerous friends, and his practice begun to en- 
large to the extent that he was not long in decid- 
ing to locate in Camden where a wider field Avas 
off'ered him. He at once turned his attention to 



public affairs, believing that he had a duty to per- 
form as a citizen which demanded some personal 
sacrifice. The proposition to supply the village 
with a water system was one which he pondered 
over for years. When it appeared that the time 
was ripe he began a vigorous agitation of the sub- 
ject. Although others may have had as miTch if 
not more to do with securing the present very ex- 
cellent system, Dr. Frazier is generally accorded 
the credit of being the father of it. His service in 
that du-ection was recognized by making him the 
president of the first water board. As showing- 
how quickly he became popiilar, his election to 
the state legislature as member of the assembly 
while he was residing in McConnellsville from 
that district occurred in 1859, only two or three 
years after locating there. He was a democrat of 
the uncompromising school, aggressive to a fault, 
serving his party devotedly and well on any and 
all occasions. His stirring, faithful efforts to keep 
the community awake and exclude dry rot from 
the body politic raised up a faction against him — 
a faction which has since disappeared. Today 
nobody in Camden opposes ijublic utility and cor- 
porate growth. Dr. Frazier always stood by his 
guns. The community appreciated him. He be- 
came postmaster. For seven years he was presi- 
dent of the village and for twenty years was presi- 
dent of the board of education. He loved to^ in- 
dulge his literary tastes and socially was a jolly 
good fellow. His nature was overbrimming with 
hospitality. The love of Scotland, the home of 
his forefathers, and its traditions was a distin- 
n-uishing trait of his character and as an active 
mend>er of the local Eobert Burns association he 
delighted in all that fostered the memory of that 
bard. His death occurred on the morning of Sun- 
day, May 10, 1891, he Ijeing then in his 75th year. 
On the' preceding Sunday, in company with a 
friend, while taking a stroll through the woods, 
now comprised in Forest park, the doctor com- 
plained of feeling ill. The next day the first 
symptoms of pneumonia appeared, and although 
as a physician he knew that his life was hazarded, 
he insisted on going out to attend to patients. 
One of them had been dangerously ill and her 




norvowcil Photo. L)K. UOUEKT PR A/.l Kli. 



66 



'QRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Huested, Photo. 

CHARLES J. WILLIAMS. 



T. H. NOKTON. 



situation was critical, but lie had felt that the 
crisis was passed and that she might be brought 
back to health. On account of the age of the lady 
he regarded successful treatment of her case as al- 
most miraculous. On that account alone he 
would not have permitted any interference with 
his attention to his practice that Monday mornii g 
when if he had stayed in, his life might have been 
consideraVily prolonged. Friends watched at his 
bed.side during the hours of the night that he 
breathed his last, and the community was greatly 
shocked when the next morning, at the time the 
church Viells were ringing, it learned of his death. 
His wife and four daughters survived him. The 
latter were Mrs. A. G. Robson, Mrs. Chester 
Dinkfleld and the Misses Grace and Florence 
Frazier, all then hving 
in Camden. The funeral 
at the Congregational 
church on Tuesday, May 
12, was an event of con- 
siderable importance, the 
attendance of village peo- 
ple being general. The 
village trustees and the 
board of education at- 
tended in a body and the 
lousiness places were 
closed during the hours 
of service. A profusion 
of flowers were jjlaced 
upon his bier. Rev. Joel 
Davies delivered the dis- 
course and the choirs of 
the Congregational and 
Episcojial churches fur- 
nished the music. 



ness of Walter T. Stevens, with whom Mr. 
Norton had been associated for several years. 
It was back in 1860 that Mr. Stevens bought 
the cabinet making, undertaking and furn- 
iture establishment, which his father had 
founded several years before. In 1890 Mr. 
Norton, then a clerk for Mr. Stevens, bought 
a partner's interestwith him and the firm was 
then for a short time Stevens & Norton. 
Williams & Norton, three years after taking- 
possession, put in dry goods, subsequently 
extending the business to the seojie of a de- 
l^artment store. The crockery dejjartment 
Avas removed to the basement to make room 
for dry goods, but after the building had 
been enlarged it was ulaced in the annex, 
27x80 feet. About the same time an addition 
to the rear of the building, 18x30 feet, was 
erected to make room for cloaks and ladies' 
ready made splits. The main store, 2ix80 
feet, and the annex have each three stories, 
so that the firm now has more than double 
the floor space that was comprised in the 
original store. Altogether there are ten 
show rooms with an aggregate floor area of 
15,000 square feet. The store, well lighted 
with side and rear as well as large front 
show windows, is equipped with the Barr cash 
carrier system. Electricity and gas, the latter 
manufactured by the Ransom machine, are used. 
Furnaces supply the heat. 

On the main floor is the dry goods dei«xrtmeut. 
In the second story of the main building are car- 
pets and drajieries and in the thuxl, furniture. A 
large, comfortably fitted private oflice occiapies the 
front of the annex. On the second floor over the 
crockery department is the display of house fur- 
nishing goods and toys. A suite of rooms on this 
floor, together with an oflice, constitute the under- 
taking department. The third floor annex is used 
as the furniture store room. In the basement 
under the main floor are ware rooms for oil 
cloths and crockery. The rear of the second floor 
is used for bedding and the front for furniture. 



'Williams & Norton 

foi'med their co-partner- 
ship in the spring of 1893, 
and purchased the busi- 




Hucsted, Plioto. WILLIAMS & NORTON'S FORCE OF CLERKS. 
Peter Hayman. Ben Short. 



E. B. Parke. 



Mrs. E. B, Parke. 



Charles Edic. 



'GBIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



57 




three years 
where he 
spent three 
farm. The 
changed for 



at Eedfleld 

afterwards 

year.s on a 

farm he ex- 

the e'eneral 



Y(|LLIAMS>» NORTON 




■*.3^?gir«!r. 



^.' 



Skinner, Photo. WILLIAMS & NORTON'S GENERAL STOKE. 



A two storj' building in the rear, 20x40 feet, gives 
space on the first floor for the display of second 
hand furniture and overhead as a work shojj where 
pictures are framed and furniture repau-ed. 

Williams & Norton aim to supply all necessities 
and the ordinary hixiiries of life. Their trade 
slogan is to flU the wants of the people from the 
cradle to the grave, including both of these im- 
portant items. 

Their undertaking business, which is in charge 
of Mr. Williams, a licensed funeral dii'ector, is a 
eomi^lete department in itself. The parlors, com- 
fortable and roomy, are fitted up in modern style 
with quartered oak cabinets and with a pleasant 
front oftice. Their para- 
phernalia comprises three 
hearses with black or 
white drapery , as occasion 
requu-es, and the Cham- 
pion truck, which is the 
newest invention for ex- 
pediting the undertaker's 
duties. Other depart- 
ments in this large busi- 
ness include trunks and 
bags and toys which are 
found on the second floor 
of the annex. 

Mr. Charles .T.Williams 
was born in Fiilton, N. 
Y., Dec. 3, 1859. His 
jiarents moved to Bed- 
field, N. Y., -when he was 
a year old, where he spent 
fourteen years of his boy- 
hood. At Sandy Creek, 
N. Y., he completed his 
schooling by attending 
the high school. Mr. 
Williams taught school 



store of Eobert Cooper in 
that village, which he 
and Charles Crow, his 
brother-in-law, owned in 
partnership for three 
years. Then, in 1886, 
Mr Williams bought the 
f ui niture and undertak- 
ing business of J. B. Castle 
at Wrlliamstown, which 
he sold five years later to 
Littlefield. In the mean- 
tune, m 1889, as one of 
the firm of Williams & 
^N'hite, he engaged in the 
manufacture of bedroom 
suits and bedsteads at 
Kasoag, a factory which 
this firm established in 
that village and three 
years later sold out to the 
Northern Manufacturing 
Co. Mr. Williams has 
always been an active 
Eepul)lican. President 
1885, appointed him post- 



Ai'thur, on Jan. 29, 
master of Eedfield, a position President Cleveland 
Ijermitted him to hold the full term. In Williams- 
town, in a canvass for election to the office of 
supervisor, although defeated, he reduced the nor- 
mal democratic majority of about 75 to 8, to the 
unusually narrow margin of (3 votes, the canvass 
being made against Thomas Laing, who, the pre- 
ceeding year was elected l)y 128 majority. In 
1899 he was elected trustee of the village of Cam- 
den and was afterwards, without opposition, 
chosen president, the office he now holds. He is 
also one of the dii'ectors of the Board of Trade. 
On Dee. 22, 1881, he Avas married to jNIiss Eva 




Hucstcd, Photo. 

INTEHIOU VIEW (JF WILLIAM.S \- XOUTON'S GENERAL STORE. 



58 



'GRIP'S" HI8T0RICAX, SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



Crow, of Redfleld. He is a member of the Am- 
bo}' lodge, F. & A. M. , and the local lodges of the 
following orders in Camden: I. O. O. P., K. of P 
and O. U. A. M. 

T. H. Norton was born at Camden April 7, 1854. 
He was educated in the higher branches of study 
at the Clinton, N. Y., high school and the Caze- 
novia seminary. After spending one year in the 
west he returned to Camden and entered the store 
of W. T. Stevens, where he was employed lioth as 
a cabinet maker and upholsterer and a clerk and 
where he became a partner in 1890. Having 
■worked at the bench for seven or eight years, he 
is a practical furniture man. He is a member of 
the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows and the 
Royal Ai-canum. In 1883 he married Frances 
Pond of Camden. 



free passage to and from the lodge room. In 
those earlier years the membership of Philan- 
thropic lodge was made up of those living ia 
Camden, Rediiekl, WiUiamstown, Amboy, Vien- 
na, Taberg, Glenmore and AnnsviUe, many of 
them coming 18 or 20 miles on horseback and 
sometimes afoot to spend a few houi'S in Camden 
amid the mysteries of Masonry. At nearly eveiy 
meeting refreshments were served; besides, the 
more elaborate St. John's festiviils, which w'ere 
held twice each year. On the records of 1823 is 
found that Brother T. B. Segar was voted $2.00 
for the trouble of writing and delivering an ora- 
tion which, as the minutes state, "was done to 
the satisfaction and gi'atification of all worthy 
members." An interesting fact is also discovered 
from the old records that the tiler's sword now in 




Huested, Photo. OFFICERS PHILANTHKOI'IC LODGE NO. 164, F. & A. Jt. 

1, E. N. Hammand; 3, T. A. Farnswortb; 3, C. W. Sbaver; -t, R. A. Magee; .5, A. W. Abbott; (i, James Moore; 7, G. 
P. Burden; 8. Peter Hayraan; 9, T. C. Phelps; 10, A. M. Fariisworth; 11, Rev. A. B. Dimham; IS, G. W. Vaudawalker . 



Philanthropic Lodge, No. 164, F. & A. M., 

the oldest of all secret orders in Camden, was 
instituted Supt. 19, 1816, by Rt. W. Joseph Enos, 
who installed the following officers: Olny Hines, 
W. M. ; Asa T. Smith, S. W. ; Joshua Ransom, 
J. W. ; Lyman Mathews, secretary ; Heman 
Byington, Treasurer; Wm. Hemstead, S. D. ; 
Aaron Bailey, J. D.; Jere Rathbun and William 
West, Stewards; Jesse Merrils, tiler. It was 
voted at their first meeting that the regular com- 
munications should be on Thursday preceding 
the full moon of each month at 2 o'clock p. m. 
and close at 7. 

From the time of its institution the lodge had 
a healthy, steady growth. Having no regular 
place for meetings they met at the homes of dif- 
ferent members. Brothers Amasa Doolittle, Nor- 
man Porter and Ranny Park's homes are men- 
tioned m the old minutes as some of the meeting 
places. The brothers at whose houses the meet- 
ings were held were each voted two shillings for 
the use of the rooms and candles and fuel and 



use was purchased of Brother Elijah Perkins by a 
vote of the lodge held in May, 1817, for the con- 
sideration of .fl.OO. Sometime afterward Brother 
Perkins presented an apron to the lodge which 
was worn by his father in Woodbridge, Conn., 
previous to the year 1775. This apron is pre- 
served in a frame and hangs on the walls of the 
lodge room beside another which was presented 
to the lodge by Brother J. H. Tracy, it having 
been worn by his grandfather, Hezakiah Tracy, 
previous to the year 1767. 

In 1821 a jietition from the Vienna brothers 
was granted to institute a lodge at Vienna. It 
was also voted to lend them all the money that 
could be spared ($10) trom the treasury to enable 
them to equip a lodge room. In this same year, 
when the financial aftairs of the lodge seemed to 
■warrant such a step, it ^\■as voted to have a com- 
mittee apijointed to consider the feasi])ihty of 
buying a building lot and erecting a suitalile hall. 
Brothers J. Bradley, Geo. L. Coe and Lyman 
Curtiss were apjiointed as ^\'ays and means com- 



'GBIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



59 




Skinner, Photo. THE MASONIC TEMPLE. 

mittee and a building committee consisting of 
Joel B. Smith, R. H. Bnrr, Geo. L. Coe, T. B. 
Segar, Wm. Plumb, Ezra Abbott and Ranny Park 
-was also appointed. The lodge granted them 
power to build a hall not to exceed 30x40 feet. 
For some reason the building was not comijleted 
until the year 1830. This Ijuilding stood in the 
Ticinity of Hon. B. D. Stones' residence m Main 
street. 

In 1834 the original Philanthroiaic lodge. No. 
188, held its last meeting and shortly afterwards 
surrendered its charter and nothing is known of 
masonry in Camden until the year 1850 "when, 
rising like the Phoenix from the ashes of its 
I'ormer self, the order took new life and secured a 
new charter, the number of the lodge being 
■changed to 164. In 1856 a resolution was passed 
recommending that a new lodge be formed at New 
London of members of Philanthroi^ic and in 1857 
a like recommendation was approved of for a new 
lodge at Vienna, which had like many others sur- 
rendered its iirevious charter. 

In April, 1861, the building in which lodge was 
held was luirned, together with the furniture, re- 
galia, etc., nothing being saved excejjt the records. 
Communications were then held in the rooms 
formerly used by the Odd Fellows 
in the Cavarly block. 

In 1862 a building lot was pur- 
chased on the corner of Mexico 
and Robertson streets and in 
March, 1863, the contract was let 
for the erection of the present 
Masonic haU. In 1866 and 1867 
petitions were made V)y lirothers 
residing at Taberg and West Am- 
lioy, respectively, for the forma- 
tion of new lodges at those places. 
From time to time since the 
Imilding of the Masonic haU im- 
j)rovements have been made in 
and aliout the building, cement 
walks laid, shade trees planted, 
and an equipped kitchen and china 
closet, lavatcn-ies and banquet hall 
furnished. 

In 1900 through the efforts of 
Worshipful Master E.W. Fish and 
associate oiiicers, the lodge was in- 
terested in the matter of refurnish- 
ing and refitting the assembly hall 
which had received no attention 
since the building was completed. 



Through the energy and untiring efforts of the 
committee appointed for that purpose consisting 
of Brothers Russel S. Johnson, Isaac D. West and 
Amli-ew W. Craig the work was completed in a 
most satisfactory manner, the hall being recar- 
peted and refurnished with settees done in oak 
upholstered in plush, officers stations and with 
other furniture corresponding colors and tone of 
finish. The waUs and ceiling were done in colors 
harmonizing iierfectly with the carpets and fui'- 
niture. The building throughout was fitted with 
electric lights. The opening night, Nov. 21, 
1900, which was attended by representatives from 
Utica, Rome, Waterville, New London, Baron 
Steuben, Vienna and Amboy lodges, was one of 
the principal events in the history of Philan- 
thropic lodge. The visiting brothers pronounced 
the temple one of the best equipped in central 
New York. 

The enthusiasm and interest attending the beau- 
tifving of the lodge rooms did much toward the 
increase of nieml)ership in 1901 which was the 
largest of any year since 1866. 

During the life of Philanthropic lodge it has 
seen four svstems of hghting used, taUow candles 
from 1816 to 1834, lamps from 1850 to 1861, kero- 
sene lamps from 1861 to 1900 and now the electric 
light, recently installed. 

The foUo-n-ing are the names of those who have 
been master of Philanthropic lodge since its or- 
ganization: Olnev Hines, 1816; Asa T. Smith, 
1817-18; Wm. Pliimb, 1819; Oliver Kinnie, 1820; 
Jesse Penfield, Jr., 1821-22; Joel B. Smith, 1823; 
Jonathan Tremain, 1824; Friend Morse, 1825; 
Jesse Penfield, Jr., 1826; Lvman Curtiss, 1827; 
Benj. F. Beard, 1828-29; Wm. Plumb, 1830: Ai'- 
temus Trowbridge, 1831-32-33; Chas. Trowbridge, 
1834; (sixteen vears interval); Artemus Trow- 
bridge, 1850-51-52-53; Geo. W. Wood, 1854-55; 
Ai-temus Trowbridge, 1856-57-58-59; F. M. 
Fields, 1860; Joshua H. Tracv, 1861-62-^63; A. 
H. Thompson, 1864; J. H. Tracy, 1865; F. M. 
Fields, 1866; J. H. Tracv, 1867; Martin R. Cook, 
1868-69-70; Robert Robotham, 1871; J. H. 
Tracy, 1872; Bvron A. Curtiss, 1873-74; Heman 
Snow, 1875-76;' Spencer J. Upson, 1877-78-79; 




SkiTiner, Plioto. 

HOME OF PHILANTHUOPIC 



LODGE, No. 10-t, F. & A. M. 



60 



'GKIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Bun-owed Photo. FRANCIS H. CONANT. 

Founder of F. H. Conanfs Sons' Furniture and 
Chair Factor.v. 

Benj. D. Stone, 1880-81-82; Spencer J. Upson, 
1883; J. E. Woleott, 1881-85; Andrew W. Craig, 
1886-87; W. H. Crenan, 1888-89; C. S. Park, 
1890-91; W. H. Gifford, 1892-9.3; A. A. Ray- 
mond, 1894; H. A. WiUiams, 1895; F. B. Har- 
rington, 1896; E. N. Cliri.stian, 1897; Edward W. 
Fish, 1898-99-1900; E. N. Hammand, 1901-02. 

Francis H. Conant Avasl)orn in Albany, N. Y., 
Sept. 19, 181.->. His childhood was passed at 
Stow, Mass. On Sept. 19, 1836, he married Miss 
Mary E. Gates and to them were born six sons, 
the oldest dying in infancy. Frank E. en- 
listed in the ci\'il war and was killed at the l)attle 
of Antietam. Walter N., Eugene H., John A. and 
George F. were all engaged in the furniture busi- 
ness. 

Soon after his marriage Mr. Conant located in 



North Bay, N. Y., where he conducted a store of 
general merchandise and engaged in some outside 
business. 

He remained there several years, then returned 
to Stow, Mass. About 181:9 he came to Camden, 
liringing his family. He entered into partnership 
\\ ith Gen. Lyman Curtiss in the milling bttsiness 
and later liecame a partner of the Hon. T. IJ. 
Penfield. He began the manufacture of chairs 
■nith limited facilities in 1851, on the site of the 
Grove mills, and in 1854 bought the property in 
the valley, where the modern factories now stand 
and where he then established the Camden Chair 
Factory, which has been in operation down to 
the present time. 

About 1865 he purchased the Detroit chair- 
factory, taking his family there to reside, and 
carried on the business for several years. While 
in Detroit he was also associated with S. P. Duf- 
tield in the manufacture of fluid extracts for 
medicinal purposes. 

From Detroit he went to Adrian, Mich., to live, 
but eventually returned to Camden where he- 
made his home until after the death of his wife, 
which occt-irred in Toledo, Ohio, while she was 
visiting her son, Walter N. Conant. For the re- 
mainder of his life Mr. Conant resided west. He 
married Mrs. Sarah Beach of Coldwater, Mich. 
His death occun-ed there May 12, 1887, aged 71 
years. 

Mr. Conant was a man of unusiial energy and 
enterprise and was interested in all that pertained 
to the welfare of the town. He was closely iden- 
tified with the Congregational cht-irch and was 
for many years a trustee of the society, as well 
as the superintendent of the Sunday school, giv- 
ing generously for the maintainence of the gosj^el. 

At various times he was elected a trustee of the 
corporation and a member of the board of educa- 
tion. He will be remembered by many as one of 
Camden's most progressive citizens. 

Eugene Henry- Conant was born in North 
Bay, N. Y., June 12, 1847, and came to Camden 
with his parents when about three years old. 

His early education was gained in the public 
schools and later he took a thorough course in the 
Utica Business college. He was first actively en- 
gaged in liusiness in his father's chair faetorv at 



ff, 



~ ^~^=- n>, i 2 




IS la jirni { 5,- 






5 ij « » , 





'c - 



Copied from print. 



F. H. COXAXT'S SONS' FURNITURE AND l^'HAIH F.VCTORY. 



'GBIP'S" HISTOKICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



61 



Detroit, as bookkeeper, T\-lao also had charge of 
the shipping department. "Upon his return to Cam- 
den he in comiDany with his brother, W. N. Co- 
nant, resumed the business of the Camden Chair 
company. In 1S69 he became interested in the 
Rochester Furniture and Cliair company and was 



Mr. F. H. Conant then withdrew and Eugene 
and George succeeded him. They rebuUt, hav- 
ing at once formed the co-partnership which was 
terminated only by the death of George F. Co- 
nant in 1898. The surviving brother has since 
then carried it on alone. 




Huc.-stL-d, Plioto. 



>'. H. CONA.NT'S SON'S' FUKNITUKK AND CIIAIK WnltKf^ 



Fancy Rocker. 

Factor}'. 

Ware Rooms— Easy Chair. 

secretary of that company for about three years, 
when he again returned to Camden and became a 
partner with his father, F. H. Conant & Son car- 
rying on the chair business until 1876 when a 
most disastrous fire occurred destroying nearly 
the whole plant. 



Finishing liiMun 
Jlorris Rccliniii] 
OlHcc. 



Cliair. 



Mr. Eugene H. Conant married Miss Cai-oline 
E. Phelps of Camden, Nov. 4, 1871. They have 
been blessed with three children, Harold P. 
Conant, who is associated with his father in ihe 
manufacture of chairs, Alice P. Conant, ^^ ho re- 
cently married Charles F. Sisson, Jr. of Bing- 



62 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



hamton, and I'esides in that city and Mary E. 
Conaut, who attends school. 

A man of wide experience is Mr. Conant who 
has traveled extensively in his own country as 
well as most of the countries of Europe, the land 
of the midnight sun, Egypt, the Nile, the Holy 
Land and in some parts of the Turkish Empire. 
He has always been interested in the welfare of 
the town, serving as president of the village; and 
it was largely through his energy and personal 
attention that the citizens of Camden are enjoy- 
ing a tine modern opera house. He was one of 
those who succeeded in getting the raih'oad com- 
jjany to extend the E. C. & N. (now the Lehigh 
Valley) road through to Camden. 

Gov. Morton appointed him one of the trustees 
of the state custodial asylum at Rome, for a term 
of four years. At the expiration of that time he 
was again ofi'ered the i>osition by Gov. Roosevelt 
but Inisiness cares had become more pressing and 
he was obliged to decline. 

F. H. Conant's Sons, 

the chau- manufacturers, 
in the .spring of 1.S76 suc- 
ceeded the Arm of E. H. 
Conant & Son, at which 
time Mr. Francis H. 
Conant, who in 1851 
estabhshed the business, 
rethed, giving place to 
his younger son, Mr. 
George F. Conant, to be- 
come the i_iartuer with his 
brother, Mr. Eugene H. 
Conant. The business 
connections between the 
brothers continued un- 
interruptedly to the time 
of the death of Mr. 
George Conant, which 
occm'red in 1898. Since 
then this large enter- 
prise, which had through 
hustling methods and 
keen i)erception of trade 

requii-ements attained a „ . , „, » t^tt/it^^tt^ 
i,,vV , „„-4.- Huested, Pboto. EUGENE 

high i)OSition among pro- 
ductive institutions, has been conducted exclusive- 
ly liy Mr. E. H. Conant, who bought all his late 
brother's interest but h^s seen fit to retain the 
business name that for over a quarter of a century 

has commanded confidence in the widest cu'cles oi 
the trade. 

His connection with the business as one of the 
liroprietors Ijegan in 1867 or '68, at about the time 
Walter M. Conant who had been connected with it 
for a short time went to Toledo, O. 

The factory was then producing the cheap, com- 
mon wood and cane seat chairs, tables, hall racks 
and other articles of furniture in a small way. 
Originally started in the building known as 
Owens' miUs, the accommodations there were 
finally found to be inadequate and in 1854 Mr. 
Francis Conant had purchased the property of 
Edwin H. Hills and Alexander Gift'ord, farther up 
stream on Itoth shores of Mad river, the site 
now almost wholly covered with buildings and 
sheds M-hich from time to time have been con- 
structed to meet the demands of a steadily grow- 
ing bu.siness. 

A grist mUl having ample water power which 




was altered and equipped to provide the conven- 
iences required by the new occupant, answered 
the iRirposes for a short time. The steady gTo^^■th 
of the business gave promise of the large and 
lucrative industry that was finally developed from 
a small undertaking. 

After the fire of 1876, which swept away the en- 
the plant and ended Mr. Francis Conant's con- 
nection -nith the business, his two sons constitut- 
ing the ne w firm erected a building which, although 
large enough for their purpose at that time, af- 
forded about a tliu-d of the facilities now in u.se. 
They also turned theii' attention entirely to the 
manufacture of chau's and greatly improved the 
grades thereof. From year to year they added 
new lines, keeping pace with the demand of the 
better class of consumers for more expensive 
chau's. 

To meet new conditions in a field of strenuous 
competition they are constantly ottering new and 
original patterns, which requu'e the services of a 
special designer, so that 
to make room for the bet- 
ter class of goods they 
are graduaUy laying aside 
the common, cheap hues. 
Their best and most 
artistic chahs aheady 
comprise the greatest 
l^art of their productions 
and include the Morris 
rechning, solid and imita- 
tion mahoghanys, colo- 
nial, hanil decorated, re- 
ception and desk and the 
Vernis Martin. 

These and a few of the 
cheajjer grades have 
made necessary the de- 
signing of hundreds of 
new patterns covering the 
l^eriod of twenty-six 
years. Besides, there are 
Imes of chairs including 
what is called the plat- 
form rocker, which are 
made for export to Aus- 
traUa, New Zealand and 
South Africa. They were 
the original makers of the widely sold Morris 
chairs. 

Mahogany obtained from Me.xico. Cuba and 
Africa and oak from Indiana and Tennessee are 
very largely used. Quartered oak and birch enter 
into much of their productions. 

Their goods are sold in all the i)rinci]ial markets 
of this country, eight salesmen being employed to 
take orders from retailers. There is also a sides- 
man to dispose of the exports. 

This large plant has the capacity for producing 
manufactured articles aggregating in value from 
.•$250,000 to ,'|;300,000. 

The site of this large plant includes aliout twenty 
acres of level land in the north part of the village. 
The buildings are all constructed especially for 
the work, with the best known modern conveni- 
ences for heating, lighting and protection from 
fire. The main structures comprise two imposing 
buildings fronting one of the main roads leading 
out of the vUlage which separates them. One 
is the factory, 60x150 feet, with four floors. This 
is where the wood is cut, shaped, curved and con- 
structed into the chair frames, ready for the finish- 



H. C(L\A.M. 



'GBIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



63 



ers and upholsterers. Connected witli it is a 
double kiln, having a total capacity of 40,000 feet, 
the lumber being run in from the yards on cars 
made for that purpose. 

Across the street are two connecting buildings 
where the chaii-s are taken for finishing and ship- 
ping. Each of these buildings has three fioors. 
One of them, 40x100 feet, includes the office, the 
upholstering department and the storage and ship- 
ping rooms. The other, 40x150 feet, is where the 
finishing of the wood work is done, such as var- 
nishing, hand decorating and polishing. 

Then comes the building, 40x80 feet, which is 



are repaired, also furnishes conveniences for re- 
placing broken tools and parts of machinery. 
The latter shelters thousands of feet of lumber 
which the great output of the factory requii-es 
constantly at hand. An average of a million feet 
is stored in these sheds. 

Rising above the rest of the buddings sixty feet 
from the ground and supported by a steel frame, 
is the water tower, holding 30,000 gallons of water 
supplied by the village water system. It feeds the 
automatic 'sprinklers with which any one of the 
liuddings may be qnicldy flooded in case tire breaks 
out. 







Borrowed Photos. EUGENE H 

used for the storage of excelsior and other ma 



terial that enter into the upholstering. 

There are the house for the storage of rough 
stock, rooms where oil and varnish are kept and 
the IjoUer and engine house where there are two 
boilers with a combined capacity of 280 horse 
power, which furnish heat as well as power, a 200 
horse power Corhss engine and an Edison dynamo 
that win run 250 Ughts for lighting the factory and 
Mr. E. H. Conant's residence which stands nearly 
an eighth of a mde distant. 

Then there are the lilacksmitb shop and the 
lumber sheds. The former, where the horses used 
for teaming are shod and the sleighs and wagons 



CONANT'S KESIDENCE. 

The visitor to the several departments of the 
works is impressed with the numerous operations 
required to complete a chau', as weU as the variety 
of tools used to perform the work. 

Beginning with the pencil sketches in which 
many curious and intricate patterns are traced by 
the ingenious designer, one follows step by step 
the procedure of evolving a finished chaii' with in- 
creasing interest as he moves through various 
buildings. 

The geuerid superintendent of the factory, Mr. 
George^M. Wilson, receives an order for a certain 
number of a particular chau-, accompanied liy the 
drawings made by the designer. This is booked 



■64 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



and a slip containing the number by whicli tlie 
chair is designated and the amoimt of stock re- 
quii'ed together with the kind of wood to be used 
is sent to Stockman Pond. 

The wood must be taken from the kihi. It must 
then go t'jrough the jjrocess of culling, sawing, 
shaping and moulding. It must go to the planing 
machines, the lathes, the saws, the joiners. The 
several pieces intended finally to l)e brought to- 
gether into a chau- may be distributed all over three 
floors of the factory. Some may have to be 
steamed, then j:)laced in a bending machine and 
after being made into the form of a crescent or an 
o.x bow left to dry. Others may go to the carving- 
machines where the patterns, by a combination of 
tracers and heads, are carved by means of ma- 
chinery. The finest work in that Ime is of course 
done by exj^ert carvers entirely by hand, several of 
whom are emialoyed by Mr. C'onant. Then there 
.are sections intended tor a different class of chairs 



from floor to floor are finally stored for drying, 
each chair marked with date on which it was 
placed on that floor. When sufficiently dry it 
goes to the poUshers. Finally into the shipping 
room. The ijrincipal styles of finish are golden 
oak, imitation mahogany and sohd mahogany. 
There are the Vernise Martin which is the French 
school of gilding and hand painting and the 
Marketry inlaid. 

The former as shown in the work turned out liy 
E. H. Conant's Sons is indeed very beautiful. 
The young ladies skilled in this work, who are 
employed by this firm, copying a pencil sketch 
off hand and filling in the colors with rare taste, 
l^roduce hand painting in different subjects that 
are master pieces in this line. 

T^lien the number of ehau-s this firm turns or^t 
is considered it is remarkable that year after year 
entirely new patterns can be created. Twice a 
year samples of theu- liest woi'k, made new especi- 




Huested, Photo. HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

1, Mrs. L. J. Aldrich, President; 2, Mrs. J. G. Dori-ance, Vice-President; 3, Mrs. E. C. Case, Secretary; 4, Mrs. E. H. 
Conant. Treasurer; .5, Mrs. E. N. Manley, Criiic; (i, Mrs. M. J. Strong-; 7, Mrs. J. H. Gamble; S, Mrs. W. .1. Frisbie; ii, 
Mrs. B. D. Stone; 10, Mrs. D. G. Dorrance; 11, Miss Clara E. Curtiss; 13, Mrs. C. A. Pbelps; 13, Mrs. Ella M. Conant; 
14, Mrs. H. L. Borland; 1.5, Mrs. M. F. Simmons; Ki, Mrs. C. A. Wetmore; 17, Mi-s. D. L. Mann; IS, Miss Ella Devoy. 



that must be veneered. To describe aU the ma- 
chines and jirocesses -\vould reqirire more space 
than is available. There are machines for roping, 
sanduig and polishing and for filing and griuding. 
There must be boring, glueing and pressing; 
shaping and sawing; eml^ossing, carving and 
vaneering. 

It is said that there are .53 operations to com- 
Tpleie a chair. 

Finally the several parts are brought together — 
assembled it is called — and the chair is then ready 
to be taken aoro.ss the road to be finished. Among 
the numerous things to be assembled are what are 
not the least important, the seats, which are many 
in style, notably saddle .seats, rush seats, cobljler's 
seats, ujjhplstered .seats 

In the finishing department Foreman D. B. 
Fogg receives the wares that are to be decorated 
or perhaps upholstered. There must lie filling, 
shellacing, varnishing and polishing. The chairs 
come in at one side of ihe building and after going- 



ally for the purpose, are sent to the furniture ex- 
position at (irand Rapids, Mich. They must lie 
different from previous exhiliits and of a popular 
and attractive pattern. From these samples or- 
ders are taken to be filled out during the ensuing- 
six months. F. H. Conant's Sons usually send 
about 200 samples each time, of -which 50 are en- 
tii-ely new. During the busy season 'H)0 employes 
are engaged in the works. 

The office staff' consists of Harold T. Conant, 
general manager; O. F. Dyer, liookkeeper; John K. 
Littler, shipping clerk; E. C. Ellis, assistant book- 
keeper and stenographer, John D. Raab, designer. 

Heads of Departments — General Superinten- 
dent. George M. Wilson; Fmishing Foreman, D. 
B. Fogg; Machine Foreman, E. L. Soper; Boss 
Carver, John Dorey; Polishing Foreman, Arthur 
Parks; Cushion Foreman, D. C. Logan. 



J. C. Davies [Concluded — see page 40] 

Mr. Davies' public life has been illustrated with 
acts of conspicuous merit Duruig his service as 



'GRIP'S" HISTOKICA.L SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



65 



dejiuty to Attorney-General Hancock, -which be- 
gan January 1, 1894, he had chai'ge of all the 
bnsuiess of the office which came before the Court 
of Claims. During his own administration the 
cases presented under the inheritance tax law 
brought into this sta'e $3,500,000. It was also 
due to him that an anti-trust law which his party 
enacted, was vindicated liy his prosecution of the 
ice trust in New York city, which, under his re- 
lentless blows, was driven to dissolution. In 1899, 
by vigorous work Mr. Davies headed oft' the great 
Eamapo water deal of New York city, a timely in- 
terference of the Attorney-General, which alone 
prevented the consummation of a great public 
steal. That Mr. Davies never permitted party 
prejudice to influence his official action is shown 
l)y the fact that after a fair hearing he dismissed 
oharges which had been brought against Bh'd S. 
Coler, of New Y'ork, an action takt-n at that time 
lo discredit a public man who represented the 



Davies, died, and during the eaily years of his life 
he was thrown upon his o\\ti resources. He began 
to earn a living as a messenger boy and grocer's 
errand l;)oy ui Utica. His early schooling was in 
a district school in the village of Florence. By 
economy and industry he saved money enough to 
give himself a higher education and legal instruc- 
tion at HiimUton law school, from '\\hich he was 
graduated in 1877. At twenty-one years of age he 
was admitted to the practice of law and during the 
following two years was in a law office at DeBuy- 
ter, Madison county, N. Y. In the meantime — 
when in his twenty-third year — he became a resi- 
dent of Camden, where he very soon engaged in 
an active and profitable law practice. In 1S8B he 
was elected member of the state assembly from 
his own, the Oneida third, district, 1)}' 1,000 
majority, running •100 ahead of the ticket He 
was the youngest member in the legislature that 
year. About that time he became a law partner 
of RusseU Johnson, a co-partnership which lasted 




Huested, Photo. 
1, Jlrs. Sarali Ti|iiile, President; 



PHILOMATH IC SOCIETY. 
, , Mrs. P. B. MilJer. Vice-President; 3, Mrs. S. L. Harding, Seci'etary; i, Mrs. Walter 
Stoddard, 'i'rrasiirer-; .5, Mrs. William Stoddard, Critic; 6, Miss Lucy Miller, Assistant Critic; 7, Mrs. A. C. Phelps; 8, 
Mrs. A. E. Duiiliaiii; U, Mrs. Lilian Smith; 10, Mrs. Joseph Stark; M, Mrs. G. L. Traffavn; 12, Mrs. Susan Cromwell: 
13, JNIrs. W . ,1 . F. \'an Allen; 14. Mrs. Wells Stoddard; 1,5, Mrs. W. B. Budlong-; Hi, Mrs. W. T. Stevens; IT, Mrs. C. P. 
Harvey . 



opposition party. Mr. Davies also denied an ap- 
l^hcatiou — that had been made jjrobably for 
political purposes— to proceed again.st Mayor Mc- 
Guh'e, of Syracuse. His most recent action in 
which he liegan the investigation of the charge 
that an illegid combination had been formed to 
advance the price of beef (in April, 1902) was 
taken in the usual, eai'nest and prompt manner, 
characteristic of Mr. Davies, which has won for 
him the couftdence of tfie people at large through- 
out the state and justified the large vote which two 
years ago elected him to liis high office. 

Mr. Davies is a self made man. He was born in 
Utica in 1857, the only son of a family of six 
children. His great-grandfather was a soldier in 
the patriot service, war of the revolution, and his 
maternal grandfather was in the war of 1812. 
"When John was twelve years old his father, Josejih 



several years and which Anally became one of the 
leading law firms of the county. 

Mr. Davies was a member of the state constitu- 
tional convention of 1893, where his ability was 
recognized by his appointment as chairman of the 
committee on Eailroads, and member of the com- 
mittees on Rules and Legislative Appointments, 
the three most important committees; and lie was 
chaii'man of the Oneida county republican com- 
mittee in 1893-'5. He is alw.iys ready to contril lute 
his time and means for local village imiu'ovement. 
For eight years he was an active fireman and is 
now an exempt. He is also a member of the 
Masonic ordei', the Odd Fellows and the Royal 
Arcanum. 

On Heptember 9, 1890, Mr. Davies married 
Elma Brown Dorrance, the daughter of J. G. Dor- 
rauce, of Camden, a union blessed with four oh 1- 



66 



'GRIP'S" HISTOEIOAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




JSoirowed Photo. THOMAS ll. PE.NFIELI). 

dren, Marjorie, ten yeai-s old, Gladys, nine years, 
John Dorrance Davies, five years, and Enssell 
Johnson Davies, two months old. While Mr. 
Davies is as deej) in politics and public affair's as 
any man in the comity, he is a great lover of home 
hfe and is never Ijetter pleased than when he is 
eomfortalily ensconced in his own librai'y or buried 
in the problem of hne fences, dairy cattle or 
l^lanting. His home comprises several acres of 
good farming land in Mad Biver valley, all of 
which is overlooked by a large pretty residence 
standing in the out;-Iiiits of Camden village and 
immediately enclossd by a well kept lawm. _ Mr. 
Davies here receives many of his politioid friends 
who come to him for coirnsel, advice or prefer- 
ment, and none of whom are ever turned away. 
Here are oft«n gathered his neighliors from the 
village, or his friends from adjacent farms with 
whom he exchanges seasonable information con- 
cerning stock, the crops or other farm matters. 
Mrs. Davies often entertains hbeniUy her friends 
in the social set of Camden in which she is a 
prominent tigure.and she is :dso a woman of strong 
iiiiection for her husband, her 
home and her children. 

Thomas Demilt Penfield was 

a native of Camden and was iden 
tifled with its history for more 
than four score years. He was 
honored in both public and private. 
At the time of his death he was the 
oldest native resident of the town 
and through him was handed down 
many traditions of its early history. 
His whole life was one of activity. 
He was one of the town's most in- 
fluential citizens, social and genia 
in every day life and wise in coun- 
cils in matters of public impor- 
tance. Personally he was a man 
of commanding appearance. He 



was a son of Fowler and Jane DeMilt Penfield and 
a grandson of Jessie Penfield, a revolutionary pa- 
triot who came to this town from Connecticut 
in 1803. Mr. Penfield by trade was a boot and 
shoemaker. He was born Nov. 22, 1813. In 1850 
he built his residence on Main street and soon after 
constructed the dock at Cape Vincent. In ISSl 
he purchased an interest in the Camden flouring 
mills of Gen, Lyman Curtiss and became a part- 
ner of F. H. Conant. In 1856 Mr. Conant 
sold his interest to Thomas Stone, a brother-in- 
law of Mr. Penfield, and four years later, in 1860, 
Mr. Stone died, after which his son, Benjamin D. 
Stone, took his father's interest and since the death 
of Mr. Penfield, which occurred Sept. 1, 1898, his 
son, I. Stoddard Penfield has taken his interest' 
in the business. The firm of Penfield & Stone in 
name is practically unchanged and is one of the 
strong and rehable business concerns of our 
thriving village. Mr. Penfield was brought most 
prominently before the peoi^le of the town through 
his political career. The corporation and the toAvn, 
also the county of Oneida, have many times hon- 
ored him. He was for many years a leader in the 
Democratic party and a director in its councils. 
In 181:2 he was elected school commissioner. He 
served as justice of the peace for eight years. He 
was first elected as supervisor in 1851, in which 
capacity at diflerent intervals he represented the 
town for eleven terms. In 1856 he was elected 
assemblyman by a handsome majority. In 1862 
he was again elected a member of assembly and 
as he was a WiU- democrat he received the heai'ty 
support of many republicans. It was diu-ing that 
session that a b'ill was introduced endorsing Presi- 
dent Lincoln's policy in abolishing slavery, and it 
wlQ forever stand to the credit of Mr. Penfield 
that he was the only democrat to vote for it on the 
first ballot. On the final vote he was joine I by 
eleven other democrats. Twice afterward he 
represented this district in the assembly, in 1865 
and 1879. He was also meniljer of the board of 
equalization. In 1882 he was elected sheriff' of 
Oneida county by a majority of 693, and had the 
honor of being the first democrat elected to that 
office since 1.S61 . He continued as sherifl'during 1883 
-4-5. He joined the M. E. church in 1836. For more 
than 25 yijars he was chairman of the board of trus- 
tees, and on many occasions acted on importantcom- 
mittees connected with the material improvement 
of the church property, the last instance being the 
building of the lieautiful parsonage. He was 




Hoi-rowe;! Photo. 



THE PEXFIELD HOME. 



"GBIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIK OF CAMDEN. 



67 




Huested, Photo. B. D. STONE. 



I. S. PENFIELD 



most geuerous with his means and efforts in sus- 
taining the church in this village. In the welfare 
of his native town and vUlage he always took an 
active interest. He was president of our village 
seven years and was many times numbered among 
the trustees. He was highway commissioner for 
years, the second president of the board of water 
commissioners, a member of the board of educa- 
tion and chau-man of the commission that had 
charge of building the new town hall, This was 
his last public act, one which will be among the 
enduring monuments of his loyalty and enterprise. 
He was twice married. His first wife was Joanna 
I., daiighter of Kev. Eliakim Stoddard, and his 



his brother-in-law, T. D. Penfield. These 
mills are the oldest industry in the village, 
though many changes in the general plan 
upon which they have run and few changes 
in their ownershifj have taken i^lace. As 

early as the beginning of the last century 
a saw and grist mill stood on the site of the 
l^resent budding, or very nearly so. All 
of the land extending from the creek to 
Main street on the east and Mexico street 
on the north, was then a mil] yard, includ- 
ing the site of the Dorrance block on the 
corner of Main and Mexico streets, which 
at that time was covered with logs brought 
to the mill by oxen or u])on the bosom 
of the river for sawing. In fact, the begm- 
ning of the settlement of Camden, as early 
as 1795 or 179(3, according to the best 
accounts, was the erection of a saw mill a 
little south of the present flouring mill, by 
Jesse Ciu'tiss. Just when the original grist 
mill was built does not apjjear, but after the 
death of Ehhu, the son of Jesse Curtiss, 
Judge Israel Stoddard, in 1818, j^urchased 
the property which consisted of a grist 
mill, saw mill and two acres of ground. 
Four years later Judge Stoddard and 
Gen. Lyman Curtiss conducted the gri.st 
mill in the basement of which Edward Goodyear 
oai'ried on a distillery. In 1834 Erastus Upson 
purchased the interest of Judge Stoddard. In 
1851 Francis H. Conant became the jjartner of 
General Curtiss, Erastus Upson retii'ing, and the 
firm was known as Curtiss & Conant until October 
23, 1851, when the former disposed of his interest 
to Thomas D. Penfield. Conant & Penfield con- 
ducted the basiuess for two years, then Mr. Co- 
nant sold out to Thomas Stone, which was the 
beginning of the firm of Penfield & Stone. The 
latter died in 1800, and his son, Mr. B.D.Stone, was 
called from school to take his father's place in the 
mdl. It was not until 1867, however, that he per- 
sonally liecame partner, his father's interests then 




PENFIELD & STONE'S 



The Old Mill. 



second wife was Miss Lucinthia, daughter of 
Judge Israel Stoddard. His widow and son, I. 
Stoddard Penfield, reside at his old home on Main 
street. Mr. Penfield was a kind and loving hus- 
liand and an affectionate and thoughtful father. 

Penfield & Stone, as a co-partnership name 
dates back to 1856, when the late Thomas Stone 
bought the interest of Francis H. Conant in the 
Camden Flouring Mills, to become the partner of 



FLOUK AND FliED MILL. 

The Present Mill. 

becoming his own. But the firm name was con- 
tinued uninterruptedly down to that time, and in- 
deed ever since. Mr. T. D. Penfield died Sep- 
tember 1, 1898. The firm now consists of B. I). 
Stone and I. S. Penfield, who is the son of T. D. 
Penfield and who, so far as the name goes, repre- 
sents the senior interests, although his actual con- 
nection with the business is of much later date 
than that of Mr. Stone, and he is a much younger 
man. 



68 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



At the time Lyman Curtiss succeeded his father 
an old red mill which had been standing on the 
west side of the stream was moved away. A new 
dam was built and afterwards the saw mill was re- 
moved or torn down to make room for new build- 
ings that were subsequently erected along the west 
side of Main street. The flouring mill which had 
been run for many years was biirned early in the 
morning of September 27, 1882, the tire occasion- 
ing a total loss, amoirnting to aV)out .$10,000, on 
which there was an insurance of .'$5,000. Penfleld 
& Stone erected a hemlock hut, it being too late 
in the season to build such a strvicture as they con- 
templated, in which they ran during the winter 
one run of stone, using, of course, the old water 
wheel which was intact. The new building, one 
of the finest and most commodious mills in the 
country, was occupiei November 1, 188 ^. Ten 
thousand dollars was the first cost of the building 
and equipments, although improvements have 



1857. After completing his studies in the Caze- 
novia Seminary he went west, being gone about 
three years, from 1879 to 1882. Upon his retm'u 
to Camden he attached himself to his father's in. 
terests. During tlie time the latter was sherift' he 
occupied the post of undersheriff. 

B. D. Stone was born in Camden, April 16, 1812, 
and was educated in the Camden schools aud Pal- 
ley Seminary at Fulton, N. Y. In 1868 he mar- 
ried Miss Elma Berry, of Oneida, who died in 
1870. He was married to his present wife, who 
was Miss Lizzie H. Putnam, of Saratoga Sj^rings, 
May 3, 187(1. Mr. Stone has occupied sevei'al 
official pcsitions including president of the vil- 
lage and for several years village trustee. At 
the present time he is member of the Board of 
Education, a jxisiiion he has filled hve years. Al- 
though a democrat he served as member of as- 
sembly from the third Oneida district in 1877 and 
as supervisor from the town of Camden in 1869-'70 




Huested, Photo. THE EARNEST WOKKERS. 

1, Lydia Klett, 2, Ruth Stone, 3, Florence Peck, 4, Marian Malonev, .5, Fontella Farnswortli, «, Hiiiilali Stoddard, 
Estelle Rheubottom, 8. Emma Williams, !). Jennie Low, 10, Ruth Fi-isble, 11, Mary Abel, 12, Carrie Plielps. 



from time to time been added which have greatly 
enhanced the value of the property. Every means 
for the convenience for handling grist has been 
adopted. Wagons driven from the cars pass into 
the building where the feed or grain is spouted 
into the hopper scales and then elevated into the 
bins overhead. The storage capacity of the build- 
ing is 10,000 bushels of grain and 250 tons of feed. 
There are two runs of stone for grist, including 
buckwheat and rye Hour, and a Robinson portable 
mill for grinding grain into me il and feed. Five 
water wheels with a capacity of forty horse power 
are available for use at any time. The supply of 
water in the stream has never lieen reduced to the 
point where what power was needed could not l>e 
obtained. 

I. S. Penfleld w.is born in Camden, June 17, 



and 1882-'83. His father, Thomas Stone, came to 
Camden from Salem, Blass., and married Brittania 
E. , the sister of Thomas D. Penfleld. He was a 
cabinet maker by trade and at one time had a shoj) 
on Main street where Spencer & Adams' store 
now is. 

Earnest Workers. — In the autumn of 1900 
eleven young misses, averaging fom'teen years of 
age, flred with the zeal for doing a substantial 
work, banded together hand and heart, in the eii- 
terjjrise to which they pledge 1 loyalty. We will 
not explain then- methods except to say they 
employ their thought in doing good. They are a 
busy company, and their meetings are held once a 
week. This they continue until the holiday sea- 
son, when they busy themselves along other lines. 



"GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



69 



all highly commendable. Sometimes for diversion 
they have a "picnic" supper, to the menu all 
members contributing. The meml)ersliip is as 
follows: President, Lydia Klett; secretary and 
■treasurer, Emma Williams ; Hulda Stoddard, Car- 
rie Phelps, Estelle Rheubottoni, Ruth Frisbie, 
Euth Stone, Jennie Low, Mary Abel, Floi'ence 
Peck, Fontella Farnsworth. It is a pretty sight 
to see these interested girls employed for good 
objects, and we can well imagine that in the future 
they wiU be known, as now, in works as well as 
words. There are many of their elders who might 
learn lessons of activity, charity, diligence, loving- 
kindness, from this little comj^any of "Earnest 
Workers. " Thus it is that the girls of our village 
are becoming- adepts in many useful directions. 

The Merry-Go-Round is a club composed of 
young women from Camden's younger social cir- 
cle. It was organized in 1896. The meetings 
Are held twice a month at the homes of the differ- 



Miss Ella M. Dorrance, Miss Bessie L. Dorrance, 
Mrs. Charles Edward Edic, Miss Mary S. Hinck- 
ley, Mrs. Russell S. Johnson, Mrs. Myron Fisher 
Simmons, Miss M. Edith Wood. Honorary mem- 
bers: Mrs. George Albert Frisbie, Utica, N. Y., 
and Mrs. Charles Franklin Sisson, Jr., Bingham- 
ton, N. Y. 

West Camden was first settled by Manning- 
Barnes who arrived from Connecticut in 1802, and 
built a log house where for years he conducted a 
tavern. Wilburt his son opened the flr.st store in 
the village and was postmaster for a time. Merritt 
Munson was supposedly the first postmaster. 
David Smith was an eai'ly o-\vner of a large tract 
of land here ; Joseph Northrop also appears as an 
early purchaser of a jolat of land from Mr. Smith, 
which he probably afterwanls sold to Manning- 
Barnes [Pioneer Hist. Camden], whose home was 
the last outpost on the northern road, beyond 
which was a blazed jjath followed by Oneida In- 




Hucstcd, Photo. MERKY-GO- ROUND CLUB. 

1, Mi-s.MjTOn Fisher Simmons, 3, Mrs. Harry Wilson Curtiss, 3, Miss Mary S.Hinckley, 4, Mrs. H. L. Borland, .5, Miss 
Uertlia S. Dorrance, 6, Mrs. Georse Albert Frisbie, 7, Mrs. Frank F. Dorrance, 8, Edith M. Wood, 9, Bessie L. Dor- 
rance, 10, Susie B. CrimmiQS, 11, Ella M. Dorrance, 13, Mrs. Charles E. Edic, 13, Mrs. Henry J. Kitirick. 



ent members, and are distinctly of a social nature. 
Occasionally a musical program is prepared and at 
six o'clock an elaborate su^Dper is served, which is 
furnished by the members, who are noted for their 
protioiency in the culinary art. Twice a year the 
husbands and gentlemen friends of the ladies, are 
entertained, and the Merry-Go-Round suppers are 
events much anticipated by those who are fortu- 
nate enough to have received invitations. 

In this club gossiping is strictly forbidden. At 
the writing of this article a cook liook containing 
the favorite receipes of the members, is under 
preparation. The officers and members are as 
follows: President, Mrs. ,Iohn C. Davies; vice 
president, Mrs. Harry Wilson Curtiss; secretary 
and treasurer, Mrs. Harry Lincoln Borland. 
Members: Mrs. Harry Lincoln Borland, Miss 
Suzanne Brower Crimmins, Mrs. Harry Wilson 
Curtiss, Mrs. Franldin Fiiield Dorrance, Mrs. 
..John C. Davies, Miss Bertha Costello Dorrance, 



dians on then- atitumnal salmon tishing expeditions. 
Daniel Stacey in 1818 erected a grist and a carding 
mill here. The mail was first carried through on 
horse back. The village today has fine possibili- 
ties for mill privileges, having a saw-miU, two 
chair factories, coal and lumber yards, stores and a 
blacksmith shop. Among the older residents are 
S. L. Smith and A. Osborn a justice of the peace, 
both families living in pleasant homes. William 
E. Russell is a jirosperous farmer and dairyman 
and J. H. Taylor is the village blacksmith and 
postmaster. Both occupy very comfortable and 
sightly residences. 

West Camden Missionaries.— Dr. Adalaine 
D. H. Kelsey liasapjilied her distinguished talents 
and ccmtributed liberally of her personal means in 
the fields of tlhina and Jai^an. Her periodical re- 
turn home brings new people from the eastern 
countries who are given lib:ral instruction by her 



70 



'GEIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Borrowed Cut. 

METHODIST CHURCH, WEST CAMDEN, N. Y. 

and returned to labor in mission fields. Dr. 
Kelsey is a graduate of Mt. Holyoke Seminary 
and the Woman's Medical College of New York 
Infirmary. Rev. John B. Devins, a i^upil of Dr. 
Kelsey's, after valuable experience as a New York 
reporter, became engaged in benevolent work 
there. Miss Arma Smith, daughter of L. S. 
Smith and a lady of high attainments, for several 
years taught in the American College for giiis in 
Constantinople. Miss 
Carrie Bates, daughter 
of Rev. Eli Bates, is now 
doing much good work 
as a missionary in Ivham- 
gaon, India. 

Methodist Church, 

West Camden. — For 
twenty years this society 
worshipped in the Pres- 
byterian church bunding. 
In 1878, Mrs. A. Gil^son 
having coutrilnited a site, 
money was raised by sub- 
scription and an edifice 
constructed. The first 
trustees were Elias Chap- 
man, Hamilton Gifl'ord 
and G. T. Luther. 

PresbyterianChurch 

West Camden. — This so- 
ciety was organized No- 
vember 5. 1851, with six- 
teen members and Kev. 
Samuel Sweezy as pastor. 



The church was erected in 1858. The 
charter members were Charles Curtiss, 
Sabriua Curtiss, L. S. and Mrs. L. S. Smith, 
Fannie Gillett, Sophronia Gamble, John 
Gamble, E. M. Higbee, Polly Humaston, 
Christine Lifts, Harriett Lifts, Seth Rice, 
Mary Rice, Daniel Lifts, Amanda Kelsey 
and Rebecca Winchester. The church was 
dedicated in the fall of 1858, Leveritt 
Munson contrilniting the site. 

The Historical Club of Camden had its 
lieginning in 188i with ten members. The 
organization now has eighteen active and 
seven honorary members. Our annual 
season begins on the evening of the first 
Monday in October and continues twenty- 
four nights. The plan for study is to 
take some country, giving attention to its 
history and literature, with occasional essays 
upon some popular or scientific subject. 
Four evenings in the season are given tO' 
some author under the leadershiji of a mem- 
ber who arranges such a program for read- 
ings, recitations and music as she pleases. 
Dm'ing the season we have occasional social 
features. We l)elong to the New York 
State Federation, are registered at Albany, 
and have recently joined the National 
Federation. Our officers are: President, 
Mrs. L. J. Aldrich; Vice-President, Mrs. 
J. G. Dorrance; Secretary, Mrs. E. C. Case; 
Treasurer, Mrs. E. H. Conant; Critic, Mrs. 
E. N.Manlv. The list of members : — Mrs.L 
J. Aldrich, Mrs. H. L. Borland, Mrs. E' 

C. Case, Miss C. E. Curtiss, Mrs. E. H. Conant^ 
Mrs. Ella M. Conant, Mrs. J. G. Dorrance, Mrs. 

D. G. Dorrance, Miss M. E. DeVoy, Mrs. W. J. 
Frisbie, Mrs. J. H. Gamble, Mrs. R. S. Johnson, 
Mrs. D. L. Mann, Mrs. E. N. Manley, Mrs. C. A. 
Phelps, Mrs. B. D. Stone, Mrs. M. P. Simmons, 
Mrs. C. A. Wetmore. The honorarv members: — 
Mrs. Ethan Curtiss, Mrs. A. W. Allen, Mrs. W. H. 
Stansfield, Mrs. D. D. Van Allen, Mrs. M. J. 





BoriMnved Cut. 



I'laiSllVIKlUA.N' CHCUCH, WEST CAMDEN, N. V. 



'GEIP'S" HISTOKICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



71 



Strong, Miss Helen Eobson, Mrs. L. H. Kendall. 
Mrs. L. J. Aldrich originated the Club and 
lias been its President from the first. She has 
been an earnest, interested leader through the 
jears of study and her eflforts are highly ajspreci- 
ated by us all. 

A. H. Maloney, the druggist who has carried 
•on that liusiness at the same stand seventeen years, 
began in company with Elmer E. Sanford in the 
spring of 1885. Chauncey M. and Theron Phelps 
liad a drug and jewelry store with a line of sta- 
tionery and books, which they sold out to Messrs. 
Maloney and Sanford. The latter was in poor 
health at the time, but was ambitious and indus- 



macist, a task which he accomplished by hard 
study. To make room for a complete drug line it 
was necessary to close out the other branches of 
the business, the stock of jeweh-y and books being 
disposed of as soon as possible and the available 
room being taken with the goods which naturally 
belong to the exclusive and fuUy equipped drug 
store. Even then more space was found to be 
needed and the store was enlarged by the removal 
of a rear partition, the old fashioned front being 
replaced by plate glass show windows. The new 
business met with that popular favor which it has 
continued to merit. A few years ago Mr. Ma- 
loney branched out into the proprietary medicine 
business, which he has carried on to a considerable 




A. H. Maloney, Photos. 

The Butrance. 



MALONBY'S PHARMACY. 
A. H. Maloney. 
Soda Fountain. 



The Store. 



trious with prospects of a successful business 
career ahead of him. He was the practical phar- 
macist of the new firm whose intention it was to 
carry out the plan which his jjartner has since e.xe- 
cuted, that of giving to Camden an independent 
drug store, a business which at that time was con- 
ducted in connection with other lines. But Mr. 
Sanford lived only a few months after the firm had 
taken possession of the store, his death removing 
i'rom the community a pojjular young man with 
many friends who regretted the unfortunate event 
:as a personal infliction. This placed Mr. Maloney 
in the jjosition where he had a considerable busi- 
ness venture to manage out of which he also had 
to find the time to fit himself as a competent phar- 



extent, by judicioits advertising. He has placed 
on the market several remedies, but has directed 
his greatest efforts and achieved the largest degree 
of su-ccess from "Dr. TuUey's 1180 Prescription," 
the sale of which has steadily increased since it was 
uitroduced about ten years ago. Mr. Maloney 
was born in Camden, Dec. 25, 1855, and that vil- 
lage has always been his home. On Jan. 30, 1882, 
he married Lilian A. Parke. They have three 
childi-en, Marion K., Edmund T. and Mildred. 
Mr. Maloney is at present a member of the l)oaril 
of education and also a member of (he board of 
water commissioners. He was one of the incor- 
porators of the Camden Opera House company, is 



72 



'GKIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Huested, Photo. W. C. STONE, 
one of the directors and lias held the office of 
treasm-er of that company for a number of years. 
He was also a charter member of the Royal Arca- 
num. 

Walter C. Stone, proprietor of the Advance- 
Journal and of the only book as well as the largest 
stationery store m town, was born iu Mexico, Os- 
wego county, Deo. 27, 1847. He was educated in 
Mexico academy, from which iastitution he gi-adu- 
ated with high honors in 1867. In 1861 he began 
learning the printer's trade in the office of the 
Mexico Independent, on which piaper he also did 
his first newspaper work. In 1871 he bought the 
Canastota Herald, which he conducted for two 
Tears. In Septemljer, 1872. he manned Sarah C. 
Hosley, of Canastota. They have fovir children, 
Benjamin H., who resides in Camden and has 
charge of the book store, 
Ralph W., connected 
with the United States 
Geological Survey, and 
Robert C. and Bessie at 
home. Coming to Cam- 
den in 1873, he establish- 
ed the Camden Advance, 
of which he has since 
been editor and proprie- 
tor. In 1878 he added 
to his printing and pub- 
hshing liusiness a small 
book and stationery store, 
which has grown to its 
jiresent jiroportions — a 
credit to many a larger 
town than Camden. Mr. 
Stone has never taken 
any .special interest in 
politics, but he has twice 
served as trustee of the 
village and was for two 
years .secretary of the 
board of education. He Borrowed Photo. 



has fo)' eighteen years looked after the inter- 
ests of the Central New York Telephone company 
here, and from its organization has been a dii'ec- 
tor and the secretary of the Camden Opera House 
comi-iauy and manager of the house. He is a 
charter member of Camden lodge. No. 370, 
Knights of Pythias, and a member of Mt. Par- 
nassus Council, No. IISO, Eoyal Ai-canum, iu both 
of which orders he has filled imiiortant chau-s, and 
has several times represented them in the grand 
lodge. He has for many years been one of the 
trustees of the Presbyterian chiu'ch, was for fifteen 
yetu's a member of its volunteer choir and during" 
his residence here identified with its Sunday 
school work. In December, 1879, he moved intO' 
a new house, No. 141 Main street, his present 
pretty residence, which he bought a year or two 
later. 

The Newspapers. — If history can be de- 
pended upcm the pioneer newspaper in Camden 
Avas the Gazette, estalilished by E. C. Hattou hi 
May, 1842. Under several different o\\Tiers it 
managed to exist about six years. Others, nearly 
all still shorter lived, succeeded it, the Freeman, in 
1862, changing ownership twice within four 
months. In 1864 J. H. Munger estabhshed the 
Joiu'nal, which he conducted until his death, in 
1878 — fourteen years, when he was succeeded by 
his son Charles S., who continued the business 
until the paper was consohdated with the Advance, 
January 1, 1885, under the name of the Advance- 
Journal, the paper of today. In July, 1873, Walter 
C. Stone estalilished the' Advance, a four-page, 
seven-column paper, the office being on the thii-d 
floor back of the Dorrance building, corner of 
Main and Mexico streets. The material was all 
new and up-to-date, what there w-as of it, but a 
Washington hand press and a small power, met 
all the requiiements, and the "boss" and two 
lioys or a boy and a gu-1 constituted the entii'6 
force, who were not always rushed. Little by 
little more material was added, and at the end of 
five vears the plant was moved into the Imilding 
on Main street now occupied by Simmons' cigar 




W. C. STONE'S RESIDENCE. 



'GBIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



73 



store, and a small stock of books and stationery 
was added. A year later the old time hand press 
was displaced by a Campbell cylinder, and during 
the following year a steam engine was added to the 
outfit. In 1883 the paper, as a result of increas- 
ing business, was enlarged to an eight-column 
sheet. For eleven and a halt years both the pi o- 
prietor and tue town suffered fi'om the disad\'an- 
tages of two newsj^apers in a community which then 
aftorded and still affords 
but a fair business for 
one, and the consolidation 
in 1885 was the natural 
oiitcome. With the com- 
bined business more ma- 
terial and increased facil- 
ities were leq^iii'ed, and 
for these more room was 
needed. To secure this 
in July, 1887, Mr. Stone 
bought the lot now 105 
Main Street, next north 
of the First National 
Bank, and began the erec- 
tion of a building espec- 
ially adapted to his re- 
quti'ements — the Ad- 
vance - Journal building 
of today. It was com- 
pleted and the office again 
moved early in the fol- 
lowing February, and all 
except a front office on 
the second floor is oc- 
cupied by the printing 
and stationery business. 
A half medium Gordon 
job press, a lever paper 
cutter and considerable 
new material weie in- 
stalled, and in July of 
that year the paper was 
again enlarged to a nine- 
column sheet, its presert 
size. Something like a 
year later a folding ma- 
chine was added, and thus 
step by step the enterprise 
developed untrl the Ad- 
vance-Journal has one of 
the best equijiped and 
most conveniently ar- 
ranged country printing 
offices in the state. Con- 
sidering the large numlier 
of papers published in 
the county and Camden's 
proximity to the county 
seats, the paper ha-s an 
excellent cu'culatiou both 
at home and in all the 
nearby towns, and its 
single list is scattered 
aU over the United States, 
while the product of 
its job department, 
esiiecially in legal and commercial printing, ranks 
among the very best. Distinguished as having 
continued under one continuous management for 
thirty-nine years — more than twice as long as any 
other paper published in the town. The office is 
also noted for the faithfulness and long continu- 
ance of its employes. Not to mention several 
young men who, after some ye.irs of service have 



gone to broader fields, and several gu-ls who have laid 
down the stick and rule to brighten new homes or 
bear duties and Irardens elsewhere. Orville A. Man- 
zer, foreman, and since 1887 local editor, has held 
the former jaosition since September 1, 1873; Al- 
bert E. Gunther, formerly with the Journal, has 
had charge of the job department since the con- 
solidation — seventeen ye.ars; Frank Colclough,be- 
ginning as an aijprentice, has been with the paper 




Borrowea Photos. THE 
Frank Colclouyb. 
Orville A. Miinzer. 
Robert C. Stoue. 



ADVANCE-JOURNAL STAFF. 



Ben H. Stone. 

Albert E. Guuther. 

Bessie Stone. 



fifteen years; and Ben H. Stone, in charge of the 
store and stock department, has occupied his ])o- 
sition nearly eight years. Robert C. and Bessie 
Stone, the former a compositiu- and the latter emer- 
gency assistant in the store, include later acquisi- 
tions. 

The First Marriage in Camden was that of 
Elilm Curtiss and Anna Northrup. 



74 



'GRIP'S" HISTOKICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Skinuer, Photo. CHAKTEll MEMBERS CAMDEN G 

1. Frances Park, 2, W. 3. Walker, 3, W. ,T. Parke, i. B. 

fi, D. J. Yose, T, Mrs. A. Meeker. 8, A. Meoker, 9, B. N. 

11, Mrs. Y. Park. 13, Miss Carrie Park, 13, It. M. Rush, 14, 

Camden Grange No. 354 was organized by 
O. B. CJridley of WaterviUe with W01)ur Sanford 
as Master and Henry J. Walker Secretary. The 
first meeting was held in November, 1875. There 
were thirty charter members of whom eleven have 
continued for more than a quarter of a century 
and are noAV [1902] "in good standing" in the 
(t range. [See list in group of portraits.] When 
first organized there was no other Grange in any 
adjoining town nor within twenty-five miles of 
Camden Grange which was then known as the 
North Star Grange. Since its organization some 
two hundi-ed persons have joined, thirty have 
died, forty have moved away, and there are at 
present about one hundred members in good 
standing. 

Camden grange has never been in debt nor had 
an empty treasury. Fraternal feeling has been 
cultivated and the grange has been remarkably 
free from internal dissensions. During the winter 
months scarcely a week passes without" a surprise 
or invited party finding itself cordially and hos- 
pitably entertained in some gi-anger home. Very 
many of the best class of farmers and then- families 
have been united in an organization of real and 
substantial lienefit. 

Oswegatchie Tribe, No. 306, Improved Order 
of Red Men, [see portraits of officers page 134], 
was instituted on the 9th Sun of Flower Moon, 
Great Svm of Discovery 404, common era 9th day 
of May, 1895, with twenty charter members: 
Emery Lane, John Beckwith, M. McClelland, J. 
P. Smith, F. Becker, Wm. Buchanan, R. A. Ma- 
gee, J. Wood, E. Smith, A. Yorton, R. C. Vos- 
burgh, M. N. Stark, J. Maloney, W. H. Smith. 
Wm. Nesbett, .1. WiUiams, Erwiir Root, E. Rowe. 
Otis Fuller, R. Saunders, Semour Scovill, F. 
West and H. J. Wallcer. The officers are: 
Charles Lai'rison; James Jeffrie, C Waldrin, E. 
Rowe, F. Wait, D. B. Fogg, F. Hoffinan, R. A. 
Magee, J. McCaflferv, G. M. Wilson, Tom Batsou, 
J. Lifts, T. Yorton. J. P. Smith, R. Williams, F. 
Waldo, M. Winkelstein, A. Yorton, P. Beebee. 



RANGE. 

L. Osborne, .5, O. C. Woods, 

Buel, 10, >rrs. K. Sparrow, 

, Mrs. R. M. Rush. 



Corn Canning. — [See 

L. P. Haviland's sketch] 
— The earliest factory was 
established in 1855 by 
Edgett Brothers, who, 
ten years later were fol- 
lowed by J. W. Mix. 
Then came Godfrey k 
Stoddard, who in 1878 
built a factory on Mad 
river. This building was 
subsequently b u r n e d . 
The Camden Packing 
companj' established in 
1876 two factories, one a 
mile and a half west of 
the village which had 
been built in 1874 by J. 
E. Woods, and the other 
two miles south of the 
village built by Stephen 
McCall in 1872. James 
Gerow erected a factory 
in 1878, and was foUow-ed 
at ditt'erent periods of 
time by Godfrey & Stod- 



dard, Pliny Phelps, Byron Phelps, W. I. Stod- 
dard and Paddock Brothers. 

Organist. — Mrs. Phila Barnes Hendley served 
eighteen consecutive years as organist and singer 
in the First Congregational church and eight 
years in the First M. E. church where she is the 
jjresent organist. 




i 



*SSSE;ffi>Sfflaj 




B. H. Stone, Photo. 

ADVANCE- JOURNAL BUILDING, 



'GRIP'S" HISTOBIOAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



75 



P. C. Costello, uow residing in a beautiful 
house at No. 13 East 66tli street, New York City, 
1 who is one of the managing officers of the United 
States Leather Co. , of which he is a dhector and 
member of its executive committee, was for many 
years a resident and active business man and one 
of the pohtical leaders of the vUlage of Camden. 
In 1873, at the time Mr. CosteUo was most actively 
engaged in the manufacture of leather, the busi- 
ness of this firm had so largely develoi^ed that it 
was found necessary for Mr. CosteUo to remove to 
New York in order to take j:iersonal charge of the 
commercial and linanciid part of their lai'ge busi- 
ness. During the twenty-five yeai'S that Mr. 
Costello resided m Camden, engaged in manufac- 
turing leather, by close attention to business and 
the production of the best class of goods, he 
achieved a business and financial success that 
placed him in the front rank of the large manu- 
factui-ers of this state. During the time they con- 
ducted a tannery here, with the exception of the 
first two years, P. & P. Costello engaged in the 
manufacture of sole leather exclusively. 
The lirand that they put upon the market, 
known as Camden leather, soon obtained a 
widespread reputation which it has main- 
tained to the present time. 

Mr. P. 0. CosteUo was born in 1830 in the 
Parish of MohiU, County Leitrim, Ireland, 
where for years his ancestors were largely 
engaged in the manufacture of leather. He 
attended school and worked in his father's 
tannery most of the time until he was four- 
teen years of age when he came to America, 
saihng for New York, and from there going 
at once to New Hartford, Oneida Co., N. Y., 
where he found emjiloym.ent in the cm-rying 
Tjusiness. In August, lSi8, he and his cousin, 
P. H. CosteUo, came to Camden to look for 
an opportunity for going into the tannery 
busine!3S. The f oUowdng mouth they 1 )Ought 
of Andrew C. Bettis the laroperty lying on 
the south side of Fish Creek on which there 
stood a tannery carried on by George Smith 
and where for many years they eonlinued 
the enterprise. P. C, P. H. and John Cos- 
teUo entered into a copartnership which con- 
tinued without interruption to tlie time of 
.John's death in 1850. The firm of P. & P. 
CosteUo then entered into the manufacture 
•of sole leather exclusively. In 1870 they 
bought the Bay State tannery property 
Dwight F. Morss, at WUliamstown, N. Y. . se- 
several thousands acres of bark lands 
laid in the towns of WiUiamstown 



tannery was closed and the proi^erty was afterwards 
disposed of. During the time Mr. Costello was a 
resident of Camden he was actively engaged in 
the public affairs of the viUage and county. He 
was regarded for many years as one of the leading- 
republicans in Oneida county and on several occa- 
sions he reiDresented the party in town and county 
conventions. As a firm friend of Eoscoe Conkhng 
he was largely consvdted by the party leaders in 
this section of the state. As a member of assem- 
bly he represented his home district in the state 
legislature in 1859, and in 1868 he was one of the 
Grant i^residential electors from New York state. 
Mr. and Mrs. CosteUo were married at Camden 
in 1855. She was a daughter of Edward Goodyear 
and a cousin of Charles Goodyear the inventor of 
vulcanized rubber. They have three children, 
one son, Harrv, and two daughters, Anna (Mrs. E. 
W. Eopes) and Bertha (Mrs. J. P. GiUispie) aU 
of whom are Uving in New York. Mr. and Mrs. 
Costello have large socitd interests there, the for- 
mer being a member of several clubs in that city. 




7inrr(>wecl Photci 



P. C. COSTELLO. 



of 



■curing 
which 



iind Redfield. Ten years later, the l)ark supply 
being nearly exhausted, they closed the plant and 
-sold the property. Taldng Alfred and John H., 
the sons of P. H. Costello, mto copartnership, 
they organized the firm of A. Co.stello & Co., and 
purchasing 25,000 acres of rich bark kinds in Potter 
■county, Pa., buUt a plant around which the thriv- 
ing village of CosteUo very soon sprung up. From 
time to time additional tracts of land were acquired 
nntU at the time that the property was dijjosed of 
there were altogether 5(),()00 acres. The Costello 
tannery was opened in 1880. P. H. CosteUo died 
.at the home of his daughter in Brooklyn Decem- 
ber 17, 1890. In 1893 the Costello property was 
.sold to the United States Leather Co. The Cam- 
den tannery was conducted until 188^1, when the 
supply of bark having become insufficient the 



Village Presidents - 1834-42, Lyman Cur- 
tiss; 1835, Humphrey Brown; 183(5, Aaron Stone, 
1837-8, 1810 1, Aitemus Trowbridge; 1839, 1850; 
Eichard Empy; 1843, Hubliard Tuttle; 1844-5-6, 
Jefferson Coltou; 1847, Edwin EockweU; 1848, 
WiUiam E. Paddock; 1849, 1853, Baldwin Tuthill; 
1851-2, 1858-9, Alfonso W. Eansom; 1854, 1865-6; 
1873-4, 1887-8, Thomas D. Penfield; 1855, Joshua 
H. Tracy; 1856-7, 1860, Ambrose Curtiss; 1861, 
Ivers Monroe; 1862-3, Aaron Stone; 1864, 1867-8. 
1870, Stephen Cromwell; 1869, 1872, P. H. Cos- 
teUo; 1872, George Abbott; 1875, 188,1-90, Benja- 
min D. Stone; 1876, Aaron J. Stone; 1877, Lewis 
J. Conlan; 1878, John G. Dorrance; 1879-80, 
1886, Eobert Frazier; 1881, Edwin A. Harvey; 
1882-3, Eugene H. Conant; 1884, Joseph C. Mc- 
Donald; 18.S5, Egbert More; 1891, A. C. Wood- 
ruff'; 1892, W. H. Stansfield; 1893, 189(!-7, Theron 
A. Farnsworth; 1894-5, D. T. Wood; 1898-9, 
John Penningtou; 1900-1, Charles J. Williams; 
1902, James W. Stark. 



76 



'GEIP'S" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 




Hucstr.l, I'lioti; 



MUS. li. li. TUTHILL. K. li. TUTHILL. 



Camden Council, No. 175, Royal Templars of 
Temperance, was organized Sept. 9, 1886, by G. 
W. North and H. H. Gurley. The charter mem- 
bers are A. J. Daniels, J. C. McDonald, M. W. 
Wilkinson, C. H. Stearns, J. C. Eaton, C. E. 
Kinue, O. E. Kinne, F. B. Harrington, B. Phelps, 
D. A. Simons, F. Skinner, Wm. Streater, L. B, 
Story, G. E. Orr, B. Jackson and Dr. A. H. 
Smith. Since its organization here we have lo.st 
t'onr beneflciary members by death for which 
there has been paid $5,000. It is now in a flunr- 
ishing condition, having twenty beneficiary mem- 
bers beside some honorary members. It has a 
nicely furnished hall in the Churchill & Tibbitts 
block where meetings are held Wednesday eve- 
nings. The officers are: Select 
councilor, Mrs. J. C. Eaton; vice 
councilor. Miss Mary Williams; 
past councilor, .J. C. McDonald; 
chaplain, Wm. Streater; E. S., 
Nellie Wilkinson; F. S., J. C. 
Eaton; Treasurer, Mrs. H. E. 
Wilkinson; Herald, C. F. Ward; 
Guard, Mrs. H. Brogue; Sentinel, 
Mrs. W. D. Towsley; Medical Ex- 
aminers, Drs. A. H. Smith and W. 
D. Towsley. 

Executions. — Geoi-ge Peters, a 
Montauk Indian, was executed, 
Aug. 28, 1801; Sherifl' Broadhead 
on a hill west of Whiteslioro, for 
killing his wife, Feb. 21, 1800; 
John Tube, for killing Josejjh Tu- 
lie (V)oth Brotlierton Indians) was 
executed on Barn Hill. Utica,July 
25, 1817; Eobert Miller was hang- 
ed in the jail at Whitestown early 
in December, 1839, for the murder 
of Barney at Utica; on Nov. 9,18-17, 
Mary Eunlde, for the murder of her 
husliand at Utica, was executed in 
the Whitesboro jail. Pkimier, Photo, 



The Camden Oil and Gas Company- 
was organized some yeai's ago for the pur- 
pose of "boring wells or shafts for gas, oil 
and other minerals in the county of Oneida 
and counties adjacent thereto. " The capital 
stock was $4,000 divided into .shares of .$10 
each with a paid up capital of .$1,000. The 
dii'ectors were L. P. Ha^■iland, A. H. Ma- 
loney, Dr. H. G. Dubois, J. G. Dorrance, 
A. G. Wood, W. I. Stoddard, E. S. John- 
son. The first boring was on the shore of 
Mad river on the Hon. J. C. Davies' farm, 
A\ here the appearance of gas for a time gave 
promise of success. This well was sunk to . 
the depth of 1 , iOO or 1 , 600 feet. Wells were 
also bored on the property of Walter Eden, 
Charles McCarthy and James Eaton. The 
returns did not warrant farther expendi- 
tures and the work was abandoned. About 
$5,000 was expended. 

First Murder Trial. — The first convic- 
tion ill Oneida (tlien Herkimer) county for 
capital offence was that of Syhaa Wood alias 
Brown, for shooting her husl laud. On June 
5, 1798, sentenced to be hanged the 29tli of 
same month. On the morning fixed she was- 
found dead, having killed herself in her cell. 

Filibuster's Trial. — By change of venue froiu 
Niagara county, Onei<la county became the scene 
of an historical trial which resulted in the verdict 
not guilty, setting free the prisoner, Alexander 
McLeod. Taking part in the famous Canadian re- 
bellion of 1837, he on the night of December 30 of 
that year crossed Niagara river to the Axnerican 
shore and set lire to the steamboat Caroline at the 
wharf at Schlosser, at the same time murdering 
Amos Durfee. Philo Gridlev, in circuit, presided 
over the trial held October 4-12, 1841, in the Acad- 
emy at Utica. The prosecuting officers were Hon. 
Willis Hall, Attorney-Generaf and J. L. Wood 
and T. Jenkins, District Attorneys resijectively 
for the counties of Niagara and Oneida. The 
people swore thirty-tliree witnesses and the de- 
fense fourteen. 



TW77 




^-*-^ -•- 



R. B. TtlTHILL'S RESIDENCE. 



'GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



77 




means to defray expenses. 
At the present time we 
have 46 members enrolled 
and are continnmg the 
good work of our prede- 
cessors. 



Skinner, Photo. A. G. TIMIAN'S BARBER SHOP 

Coburn's Orchestra.— In the fall of 1877 Co- 
bnrn's orchestra of six pieces was organized by 
C. B. Col)iu-n, a musician, who had served for 
nearly five years in the Fii-st Connecticut Heavy 
Artillery Brigade Band diu'ing the war of 1861-65. 
The object of the orchestra is of a social, charit- 
able and business nature. In 1892 it was enlarged 
and for a year included a !)rass band. The or- 
ehesti'a has a large repertoire and furnishes music 
for all kinds of entertainments including opera 
house work, concerts, etc. All of its members 
have maintained mutually agreeable relations for 
fifteen years and they are always faithful in per- 
forming their duties. 

The Woman's Home 
Missionary Hociety of 
of the Camden M. E 
church was organized Viy 
Mrs. C. H. Guile, Janu- 
ary 21, 1891, with the 
following officers: Presi- 
dent, Mrs. C J. Bacon; 
First Vice President, Mrs. 
W. A. Stoddard; Second 
Vice President, Mrs. E. 
A. Harvey; Third Vice 
President, Mrs. A. Barnes; 
Recording Secretary, 
Mrs. W. J. Hull; Corres- 
ponding Secretary, Mrs, 
M. Tijiple; Treasurer, 
Mrs. B. A. Curtiss, 
Twenty - five memljers 
were enrolled at this time 
of whom three are 
still members. The 
work of the society 
has been to look after the 
needy in our own midst, 
to prepare and send bar- 
rels to the frontier and 
missionary homes. Mon- 
ey has also been con- 
triVinted at different times 
for Ijenevolent purposes. 
Four teas are held each 
year thereby obtaining 



The Young Ladies' 

Mission Circle of the 
Methodist Episcopal 
church was organized 
June 3, 1898. The work 
is partly home and partly 
foreign. They also di- 
vide their yearly dues be- 
tween the Ladies' Home 
Missionary society and 
the Ladies' Foreign Mis- 
sionary society. Their 
present home missionary 
work is the care and cloth- 
ing'of Gertrude Poppen- 
haggan, aged twelve, who 
is an inmate of the Watts Depeyster Home for 
girls, at Tivoli, N. Y. The foreign work of the 
Cii-cle is money which they contribute toward the 
support of the Harriet Bond Skidmore Memorial 
school, Madras, India. They also have done con- 
siderable local work, such as making comfortables 
for needy ones and in other ways doing work for 
the Master. 

The First Birth of a male child in Camden 
was that of Daniel, the son of Noah Tuttle, born 
a half a mile soathwest of the village April 22, 
1788. 




Sliinncr, Photo. C. B. COBURN'S ORCHESTRA. 

G H. \Villirtm,<<. Georiio Traffarn, A.J.Raymond, 

Richard Collins, C. B. Cobnrn, 



Misa Lizzie Brooks. 



78 



"GBIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Borrowed Photo. L. n. GOODYEAK. 

Lucius B. Goodyear was born June 16, 1817. 
Hi.s pai'ents came t(.i Camden from Connecticut in 
1820. At that time Camden was a mere hamlet of 
twelve or fifteen houses. The west side of Main 
street was then in woods. Edward Goodyear, 
father of Lucius, o^^^led a small farm extending 
from what is now Forest pai'k, on the east 
side of the street, as far north as Starks' 
carriage shop. The Goodyear family then 
lived in the only house standing on that 
side of the sti'eet. It had previously been 
used for a tavern and it was the first and only loub- 
lic house in the village. It stood on the same S23ot 
where now stands the hardware store owned by 
the Peniield estate. The house was later moved 
to Thii-d street and is now a dweUing owned by 
Geo. Williams. When Lueiiis Goodyear was eight 
years of age his pta-ents moved to a farm consist- 
ing of 100 acres of wild wood laud near Russell's 
miUs. Here Lucius hved imtd his twenty-first 
year when he started for Connecticut on foot to 
visit the bu'thplace of 
his parents. A carpet l)ag 
■contained his entire outfit. 
Upon reaching Sche- 
nectady he took the first 
and only raih-oad then in 
New York state. It ex- 
tended a distance of 16 
niHes, from Schenectady 
to Albany and was cou- 
stnicted of sticks of tim- 
ber running lengthwise 
with two-inch bars of iron 
.spilved to the tnnbers. 
The engine and cars were 
dra-wn wp the hiU at Al- 
bany with horses. After 
reaching Connecticut he 
taught school there dur- 
ing that wuiter, retui'umg 
to his home in the spring. 
The two following winters 



he taught school on Wolcott HiU. On Jime 16, 
1842, he mirried Miss Arma Smith, daughter of 
Hiiam Smith. In 1863 he built the house which 
he now occvipies as his residence. In January, 
1893, his wife died and in December, 1895, he 
maiTied Elizabeth Schuyler, daughter of Captain 
Barnet Schuyler. Mr. Goodyear, not having any 
children of his own, has taken and educated, at 
ditterent times of his life, eight orphans. He is a 
man of means, which he has accumulated by 
industry and good management. 

Camden Lodge, 718, I. O. O. F., was institut- 
ed Friday, Nov. 11, 1891, ^dth twenty-five mem- 
bers, viz: N. E. Newton, Noble Grand; R. H. 
Robertson, Vice Grand; J. D. Bm-rill, Recording 
Secretary; John S. Robertson, Financial Secre- 
tary; D. Ct. Hubbard, Treasurer; E. C. Case, 
Warden; E. D. Morss, R. S. N. G. ; R. M. Rush, 
L. S. N. G.; Geo. H. Abbott, R. S. V. G.; Jas. 
W. Stark, L. S. V. G. ; E. N. Hammand, R. S. S. ; 
T. N. Norton, L. S. S. ; Chas. J. Williams, I. G. ; 
H. J. Newland, O. G. ; R. A. McGee, Conductor; 
A. E. Gunther, Chaplain; Hon. J. C Davies, 
Hon. R. S. Johnson, Prank P. Miller, W. E. 
Stone, John G. Acklev, Geo. L. Traflfarn, H. J. 
Walker, Alex. Fmdlay and G. J. Quance. The 
lodge has at the present writmg a membership of 
sixty and is gaining steadily in nicmbershij]. 
It has been honored by the district by making one 
of its members district deputy grand master, Geo. 
H. Abbott, who served in that capacity for the 
term of 1901. It has been presided over by the 
following Noble Grands : N. E. Newton, R. H. 
Robertson, E. C. Case, J. D. BurriU, J. S. Rob- 
ertson, Geo. L. Tratfarn, Wm. J. Hull, Geo. H. 
Abliott, Chas. W. Shaver, F. J. Hoffmann, E. N. 
Hammand, T. A. Farnsworth and Fred Osliorue. 
Its officers are: Noble Grand, Alex. Findlay; Vice 
Cirand, H. L. Monroe; Secretary, A. E. Gunther; 
Financial Secretary, W. E. Stone; Treasurer, Jas. 
W. Stark. 

Woolen Factory. - This enterinisv was started 
in the early thirties by John Norton. It finally 
burned and was reliuilt only to again burn. The 
third was owned and oijerated liy C. T. E.Huyck. 
It finally became a x'laning mill (now George W. 
Dana's). 




SUinner, Photo. 



L. B. GOODYEAH'S RESIDENCE. 



'GKIP'S" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



79 




Skiuner, Photo. 



V. D. Skinner. 
RIVERSIDE GALLERY, V. D. SKINN 



V. D. Skinner, wlio made several of tlie pic- 
tures used iu this pul)lieation and has done excel- 
lent work, conducted the old Gould gallery in 
this villag-e in 1893 and '94. Afterwards he had a 
portable gallery on Railroad street and in 1897 he 
opened the gallery where he is now doing business 
and which is known as the Riverside gallery. The 
second year he was there he had a partner, the 
firm then being Skinner & Moses. They pur- 
chased the Powell gallery that year and when they 
dissolved partnership the following year Mr. 
Skinner kept the Riverside gallery and Mr. Moses 
the other. The former has recently added to his 
line of work an agency for what is called the 
Royal Oil color productions which are copies of 
smaU pictm-es enlarged in colors. He also takes 
orders for crayons, water colors and pastels and 
sells kodaks 'and kodak supphes. His Imsiness 
includes the sale of the Columbia and Edison 



phonographs andrecords. 
Mr. Skinner was born in 
Camden June 29, 1858, 
and after leaving school 
was employed first for 
five years ' in Finch's 
furniture factory and 
later in J. M. Young's, 
at Camden. On May 16, 
1879, he was married to 
Miss Ella M. Cleveland 
of Vienna. 

The Philomathic 
Club. The idea of our 
club originated with Mrs. 
Caroline Harvey, who, in 
the fall of 1889, invited a 
few ladies to meet at her 
home and join with her 
in forming a literary 
society. At that meeting 
Mrs. C. H. Guile, wife of 
the pastor of the M. E. 
church, was chosen presi- 
dent and it was decided 
to take up theChautauqua 
Course for four years 
under the name of Chau- 
tauqua Home College 
ER. P™P- Class. After that course 

was finished one year was spent in the study of 
United States history and American authors, then 
two years in France, the same length of time in 
Germany, followed by a year in Holland. Last 
year was spent in studying Italy and America. 
At the close of the second year of the society's ex- 
istence, Mrs. Guile moved to Fulton, so Mrs. 
Wells Stoddard presided for a few months, but 
owing to sickness she resigned, when Mrs. Sarah 
Tipple was elected and has been our faithful 
president for the past nine years. In 1891 the 
name of the societv was changed to the present 
one — Philomathic" Club — and its membership 
limited to eighteen. The society joined the New 
York State Federation of Women's Clubs m 1896. 
We have lost onlv one member by death. Mrs. 
Bvrou A. Curtiss,' one of our charter members, 
aitei- a short illness, fell asleep April 4, 1897. The 
officers for 1901-02; President, Mrs. Sarah E. 




Skinner, Photos. CHARLES McCARTHyS RESIDENCE AND BUSINESS BLOCK. 



80 



'GEIP'S" HISTOKICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Huested, Photo. PEKRY B. MILLER. 
Tipple; vice president, Mrs. P. B. Miller; secre- 
tary, Mrs. S. L. Harding; treasm-er, Mrs. Walter 
Stoddard; critics, Mrs. W. I. Stoddard, Miss 
Xiircy Miller. 

The Woman's Missionary Society, First 
Presl>yteriau Church, is auxiliary to the Utica 
Branch to which are committed all the contribu- 
tions of the Camden Society. Meetings are held 
regularly the second Thursday evening of each 
month. Every contributor is i-egarded as a mem- 
ber of the societv. Fifty names are on the roll 
for this year. The officers are President, Mrs. E. 
N. Man'ley; Vii-e-President, Mrs. L. J. Aldrich; 
Secretary "and Treasurer, Mrs. D. G. Dorranoe. 

The Christian Endeavor Society, Presby- 
terian churcli, diirin.g its entire existance of more 
than fifteen years has lieen a source of spu'itual 
strength to the church 
and under the present 
otficers is doing better 
"svork than ever. Presi- 
dent, Miss Bessie Stone; 
Tice president. Miss Hat- 
tie Scriven; recording- 
secretary, Mrs. Hugh 
Wa s s o n ; corresponding 
secretary. Miss Lottie 
Hart; treasurer, Miss 
Maggie McKillip; organ- 
ist, Miss Bertha Woods. 

Mexico Street is the 

name of what was the 
main road in early years 
of Camden's settlement, 
connecting Rome with 
Mexico, N. Y., which 
passed through Vienna 
village and over Preston 
Hill thence uniting with 
the "Mexico Road," 
linown in Camden as Skinner, Photo. 



Mexico street, which ran direct between that vil- 
lage and Vera Cruz on Lake Ontario, passing- 
through the towns of Amboy, Parish and Mexico. 

Perry Brockett Miller, who conducts a large 
wholesale and retail dry goods and grocery busi- 
ness in the Dorrance block at the corner of Main 
and Mexico streets, began trade in that store in 
January, 1898. Occupying a most favorable loca- 
tion, a real centre for trade, his business has pros- 
pered to a flattering extent. Mr. Miller is a vet- 
eran of the late civil war, in which he had the 
honor of having served in some of the hottest en- 
gugemeuts. It was the troop of which he was a 
member which participated in that famous assault 
on Fort Fisher, North Carolina, January 15, 1865, 
and it was his fortune to be among the members 
who in spite of the terrible rain of fire and lead 
that poured uito then:i, charged over the ramparts. 

Mr. Miller was born in Ansville, Oneida Coxmty, 
N. Y , February 22, 18il, the son of Smith and 
Lydia Brockett Miller. Before the war he was 
engaged in business with Giles B. and Lucius C. 
Miller in the store now occupied by Daniel Crim- 
mins. On July 28, 1862, he enlisted in Co. B, 
117th Regiment, N. Y. V., serving until the close 
of the war and being mustered out in June, 1865. 
Having the fortunate experience of passing through 
the many serious perils unscathed he participated 
in every march and fight in which his regiment 
took part. 

Returning from the war he engaged in business 
at Aml)oy Centre, N. Y., untd, 1868, when he 
went upon the road as a commercial traveler, an 
occupation which he followed for twenty- nine 
years. 

On October 18, 1866, he married Phebe Joes- 
hnrj of Catskill, N. Y. They have two children, 
Miss Lucy S. Miller of Camden and Dr. F. P. 
Miller, a jjracticing dentist having a residence at 
Whitesboro, N. Y., and office in the Gardner 
block, Utica, who married Miss Harriett Hume of 
Camden, N. Y. They have two children. Britan- 
nia the daughter and Perry Brockett the son. 

The First Death in Camden village was that 
of Mrs. Bacon who, with her child, was drowned 
in 1799 while attempting- to cross Mad River in a 
canoe. 




PERRY B, MILLER'S GENERAL STORE. 



'GBIP'S" HISTOKIOAL SOUVENIR OF C\MDEN. 



81 




Huestcd, Photo. 



W. H. GILES. 



Mt. Parnassus Council, No. 1180, Eoyal Ar- 
canum, [see portrait of officers j^age 13-1] was in- 
stituted August 22, 1889, with a charter list of 
seventeen members. Meetings were held in the 
G. A. B. rooms until April 5, 1894, when Arcanum 
hall, in the new Opera House bloelv, was formally 
<.ipened and dedicated. These commodious apart- 
ments were fitted up with convenient cloak rooms 
and suitable furniture and have since beooine a 
Ijopular meeting place for other societies. 



The 



council derives its name from Moiaut Parnassus, a 
beautiful elevation overlooking the village, and is 
thus tvpified in nature by stability, beauty and 
iiromiiience, which are symbolic of the order it- 
self. While the growth of the council has not 
been as phenomenal as the growth of the order at 
large, there has been a normal increase each year, 
and 1901 closes with a roll of sixty-one members. 

Early Hotels — Elihu Curtiss had an hotel on 
Miner avenue which was opened in 1803. The 
Park Hotel, Imrned June 22, 1867, was conducted 
by Jefferson Colton. The 
Seymour House which 
stood on the site of B. D. 
Stone's residence, was 
burned in 1880. The 
Commercial w a s built 
about 1886 by John Ol- 
den. The Whitney 
House was btiilt by Moses 
L. Whitney early in the 
seventies, who conducted 
it for about five years, 
until his death. The 
Empire House was built 
by William Moses. 

Fish of New York State 
— Three hun(b-ed and four 
dift'erent species are 
found in the waters of 
ihe state. Skinner, Photo. 



W. H. Giles ijurchased the Baymond saw miU 
property in 1892, which includes besides the mill 
with a forty -horse water power, about an acre of 
land. Here logs are cut into required lengths and 
converted into all kinds of material used by build- 
ers for manufacturing. Since Mr. Giles came into 
possession of the business, it has been developed 
for the production principally of building material 
used in the framing of buildings. The mUl has 
the capacity for cutting up 700,000 feet of lumber 
a year and is operated both in turning out custom 
work and producing lumber to lie sold on demand. 
Mr. Giles has put up dwellings as an investment to 
be rented or sold. His other business interests 
include a dairy farm of 100 acres which is located 
on the Taberg road, a mile east of the village and 
which is now his home. From 1884 to 1892 he 
was engaged in the sale of milk. Mr, Giles was 
born in Columbus, Chenango Co., N. Y., Septem- 
ber 15, 1860. In 1865 his home was removed 
from Aurora, 111., where he had resided a short 
time, to Camden, where he attended school. In 
1874 his father's family moved to a farm in the 
northern part of the town and in 1881 purchased 
the Cobb place near the village. On November 
27, 1879, he married Ida M. Brewster. They have 
three children, J. Brewster, Susan and Leslie. 
Mr. Giles is a member of the Camden Grange and 
the Boyal Arcanum. 

The Ladies' Foreign Missionary Society of 
the First M. E. Church of Camden, was organized 
by Mrs. W. B. Cobb in 1880, she being the wife 
of Bev. W. B. Cobb, pastor of the Church at that 
time. Since then the wives of the pastors (with 
but few exceijtions) have acted as i^residents of 
the society. The society has been active and suc- 
cessful in its work. The names of the present 
officers are: President, Mrs. W, H. Park; First 
Vice-President, Mrs. B. Gardner; Second Vice- 
President, Mrs. Catherine Garnish; Third Vice- 
President, Mrs. Walter Stoddard; Becording Sec- 
retary, Mrs. Lillian Smith; Corresponding Secre- 
tary, Mrs. Hiram Chapman; Treasurer, Mrs. Jane 
Williams. 



Plants of New 

sijecies there 



York State — Of the flowering 

are 1,450—1,200 herbacious, 250 

Woody plants comprise 250 species 



ornamental. 

of which 80 attain the stature of trees. Medicinal, 

about 160 species. Naturalized, 160 species. 




W. H. GILES' SAW MILL. 



82 



"GRIP'S" HISTOEIOAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Borrowed Photos. AMBROSE CURTISS. 

BYRON A. CURTTSS. HARRY W, 

Byron A. Curtiss lias ])een engaged longer in 
business in Camden, in-obably, than any other mer- 
chaut. He began, a clerk for his father, Ambrose 
Cnrtiss, and G. S. Wetmore, in 1858, when they 
became partners in business where W. H. Dor- 
rauce & Son are now located; and with the exceij- 
tion of a short time when he was in school at 
Fulton, has continued in trade steadily ever since. 
Mr. Wetmore was a son-in-law of Ambrose Curtiss, 
and they carried on business together under the 
firm name of A. Curtiss & Son until 1862, 
when they moved into the new block which 
Mr. Curtiss built, and which was completed 
that year. In 1865 Mr. Byron A. Curtiss 
succeeded to his father's interest, and in 
company with Mr. Wetmore, his brother-in- 
law, carried on the busuiess until 1870, the 
firm being known as Wetmore & Cui-tiss. 
The former then withdrew and Mr. Curtiss 
is still in Inisiness in the same place. At 
the time this building, the Curtiss block, was 
erected, it was regarded as one of the largest 
and most modern business lilocks in the vil- 
lage. It stands at the corner of Main and 
South Park streets, a three-story brick 
structiu-e with a frontage of thii'ty feet and 
a depth of seventy-five feet. The third 
door has a large hall and offices. The 
second floor is largely occupied by Mr. 
Curtiss as a store room for his goods, the 
two front rooms being used by the telejihone 
exchange. 

Ambrose Curtiss was born on a farm in 
what is known as the "seventh," a term 
which years iigo was first applied to a tract 
of country just north of the village, wherein 
was located a settlement which in those 
days w-as a more important place than 
Camden vUlage. The date of his bu-th was 
March 26, 1803. He was a carpenter, 
cal)inet and furniture maker, an occupation 
which he followed for some years. And 
he was also in the earlier years of his life, 



active in local politics. In the 
sirring of 18-19 he moved into the 
viUage and, in company with his 
son-in-law, H. F. Curtiss, bought 
out the business which Francis 
Snow was then conducting in a 
store on the site now occupied by 
Daniel Crimmins. They enlarged 
the business and carried it on until 
1856, ^^•hen they were burned out; 
by the lire which that year swept 
the entire east side of Main street 
from the park corner to the Miner 
block. When he next went into 
bvisiness it was with Mr. Wetmore, 
as has lieen stated. When he was 
sixcceeded by his son he engaged 
in banking with John B. Carman, 
the venture which, unfortunately, 
resulted in failure in 1876. This 
w.as a blow, terminating an active 
1 lusiness career of over fifty years, 
which undoubtedly ha.stened his 
death, as no one felt it more keen- 
ly than he did. During the earlier 
part of his life he served as super- 
visor and also as a village trustee. 
He was for some time jiostmaster 
of Camden and for many years was justice of the 
peace. Ambrose Curtiss married Polly L. San- 
ford, December 29, 1825. She died December 
16, 1863. His death occuiTed November 4, 1880. 
They had four daughters and one son. The for- 
mer, all of whom are now dead, were Mrs. H. F. 
Curtiss, Mrs. Gardner Preston, Mrs. C. G. Phin- 
ney and Mrs. G. S. Wetmore. He subsequently 
married Betsey Ann Brown, the weddmg occur- 



CURTISS. 




Sliitiner, Photo. B. A. CURTISS' GENERAL STORE. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



83 




Huested, Photo. A. H. VANDAWALKEE. 
ring Noveml)er 20, 1865, who now resides in Mil- 
ford, N. H. 

Byron A. Curtiss was born on his father's fai-m 
in the "seventh," town of Camden, June 26, 18M. 
By his marriage with Philoma 8. Wilson, of Cam- 
den, November 4, 1867, there are two children, 
Mrs. LiUian O. Vandawalker, of this village, born 
February 16, 1873, and HaiTV W. Cm-tiss, l)orn 
February 16. 1876. Mrs. Curtiss died April 3, 
1897. Mr. Curtiss has interested himself in public 
matters to the extent that he has served as siiper- 
visor for two terms, on the village board of trus- 
tees at diiferent times and on the board of educa- 
tion of which he is still 
a member. He is Past- 
Master of the Masonic 
order. 

Harry W. Curtiss, after 
completing a covirse of 
study in the Clinton Lib- 
eral Institute at Fort 
Plain, entered his father's 
store where he has since 
continued as a business 
associate. On October 
26, 189S, he married 
Bertha, the daughter (jf 
James P. Owen. He is 
now sul)-deacon in the 
Masonic lodge. Seven 
years ago he Ijecame a 
member of Hose Co. No. 
1, of which he served as 
foreman the past two 
years. He is now the 
chief engineer of the fire 
department to which 
office he was elected in 

December 1901. 



A. H. Vandawalker, proprietor of the Cam- 
den Steam Laundry, in 1894 bought the old hand 
laundry of O. A. Pierce who was then located on 
the second floor of the Newland block. Trade 
steadily increased under the new management 
until it outgi'ew the fiicihties at his command and 
Mr. Vandawalker in 1899 leased and took posses- 
sion of the gi'ound floor headquarters in the Opera 
House block where he is now carrying on the 
business. New machinery with steam power, in- 
cluding the latest mangles and the newest machine 
for smoothing edges was pirt in. Agencies were 
then established in near-by villages, including 
Constantia, Cleveland, North Bay, McConnels- 
ville, Cazenovia and WilHamstown, and a large 
out-of-town trade was secured by producing satis- 
factory work and paying for carriage. Mr. Van 
dawalker was boi-n in Osceola, January 27, 1869. 
He attended Ives' Seminary in 1881 and was at the 
Cazenovia Seminary in 1882. In 1887 he came to 
Camden and was for seven years a clerk in B. A. 
Ciu-tiss' store. He is a member of the Masonic 
order and the Odd Fellows. 

Former Residents of Camden, including 
many who are native born and most all of whom 
have made a success in life, many having distin- 
guished themselves, include the following: P. C. 
CosteUo, capitalist. New York city; H. C. Cos- 
tello, capitalist. New York city; John C. CosteUo, 
leather manufacturer, Buflalo, N. Y. ; Miss Joseph- 
ine Kelsey, missionary to Japan; Miss A. Smith, 
missionary to Turkey; Stearn Stevens, Episcopal 
clergyman ; George Upson, Utica Saturday Globe, 
Utica, N. Y. ; Arthur Whelock Upson, author and 
poet, St. Paul, Minn.; E. Clinton Harvey, lawyer, 
New York; Fayette Ohnstead, fruit grower, Po- 
mona, Cal. ; W. H. Stansfield, knit goods manu- 
facturer, Syracuse, N. Y. ; G. H. Frisbie, knit 
goods manufacturer, Utica, N. Y. ; C. E. Conant, 
lawyer, Albany, N. Y. ; John P. Don-ance, Pen- 
nellville, N. Y. ; Miss Julia Ciu-tiss, missionai-y, 
N. C. ; Frank Abbott, dealer in musical instm- 




^kinnir. Photo. 

CAMDEN STEAM LAUNDRV, 



A. H. VANDAWALKER, I'ro]-. 



84 



"GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIK OF CAMDEN. 




Boirowfd Photos. 

C. A. WETMORE. 



G. S. WETMUUE 



meiits, New York; G. B. Miller, dealer in mii.si- 
cal instiiTments, Rochester, N. Y. ; fc'eth B. Cleve- 
land, tobacconist, Buffalo, N. Y. ; .1. F. Burton, 
manufacturer, Oneida, N. Y. ; Thomas Hume, 
clerk city court. New York city; George William- 
son, humoi-ist, Mass. ; Jesse Sheapard, merchant, 
Sherburn, N. Y. ; Frank Phalon, Unitarian clergy- 
man, Worcester, Mass. ; Ezra Tipple, Methodist 
Eijiscopal clergyman, New York city; Bertram 
Tipple, Methodist Episcopal clergyman. New 
York city; A. P. Stone, banker, Clinton, Iowa; 
A. L. Smith, banker, Clinton, Iowa; C. H. Truax, 
judge supreme court. New York city; L. H. C'.on- 
ian, city court judge, New Y'ork city ; W. H. Tor- 
bert, wholesale druggist, Dubuque, Iowa; John 
Stewai't, merchant, Clinton, Iowa; Francis C. 
Bacon, banker and merchant, ^liltou Junction, 
Iowa; Albert Paddock, lawyer Clinton, Iowa; 
ZopherMore, mining and real estate, Denver, Col ; 
Martin Cook, mining and real estate, Denver, Col. ; 
M. P. B. Cook, manufacturer, Lockport, N. Y. ; 
Wm. H. Tripp, lawyer 
and mining, Denver, Col. ; 
C. G. Wilcox, connected 
with State Board of Ag- 
riculture, DePere, Wis. ; 
Arthur Strong, machin- 
ist, New York city; J. 
R. Simmons, Baptist 
clergyman; S. T. For<l, 
Baptist clergvman ; Willis 
T. Ford, Baptist clergy- 
man; Fowler Stone, lum- 
ber mei'chant, Wausan, 
Wis, ; Disbrow Stone, 
mining and dentist. Den- 
ver, Col. ; John B.Devins, 
city missionary and man- 
aging editor of New Vork 
Observer, New York City ; 
W. F. Woods, editor of 
Legal Advertiser, Chica- 
go, 111. ; H. G. Munger, Skinner, Pliot, 



merchant, Herkimer, N. Y. ; C. S. Munger, 
editor of Herkimer Republican, Herkimer, 
N.Y. ; Egbert More, real estate and mining, 
Denver, Col.; Jane and Ella Jamieson, 
ladies' furnishing goods, Brooklyn, N. Y. ; 
Mrs. Nettie M.TarbeU, hail- and fancy goods, 
Utica, N. Y. ; Albert Downes, Kansas City, 
Mo. ; Fred Voorhes, Clark Stoddard, Wash- 
ington, D. C. ; Clarence Doten, Washington, 
D. C. ; Atwood Stoddard, Mich. 

Charles A. Wetmore, who for the pa.st 
two years has been interested in placing 
mining properties and who is now engaged 
in the sale of securities, is the treasurer of 
the National Security and Trust Co. of 
Wilmington, Del., whose executive offices 
are at No. 32 Broadway, New Y'ork. He 
is largely interested in and promoter of 
the Merganthaler-Horton Basket Machine 
Co., whose offices are at No. 287 Broadway, 
corner of Reade street, New York. Mr. 
Wetmore was born in Camden, April 24, 
1859, the son of Giles S. and Charlotte M. 
\Vetmore. Leaving Camden May 15, 1900, 
to accept a position with McKesson & 
Robbins, manufacturers and wholesale druggists, 
New York, still retaining his hom^ in t^^^ villagg^ 
Mr. Wetmore became identified ^^•ith railroad oji- 
erations in Honduras, Central America, and in 
mining in Nova Scotia. On Jan. 1, 1901, he with- 
drew from all connection with the drug house in 
order to accept the position of secretarv in the 
North Coast and Olancho Valley Railroad Co. of 
Honduras. Among the several mining properties 
in which he has been interested are the Sultana 
Mining Comi)any of Angel's Camp, Calaveras 
cmnty, Cal., and the Colonial Copper Comi^any 
of New York, ^ilthough his business headquar- 
ters are in New York, Mr. Wetmore still makes 
Camden his home, residing in the house which his 
father built several years ago and which since it 
came into his possession he has fitted with all 
modern improvements. 

He was educated in the Camden .'-chools, in the 
Whitestown Seminary, which he attendeil in 1871 
and 187(), and in the Cazenovia Seminary where 
he Ax-as instructed in 1876-8, Then he became a 




C. A. WET.MOKEti KESIDEXCE, 



'GRIP'S' HISTOJIIOAL SOUVENIK OF CAMDEN. 



85 




Huested, Plioto. OFFICERS CAMDEN LODGE, No. 718, I. O. 0. F.. 1901. 

1 Fred Osborne, N. G.; 3, Alexander Findlay, V. G.; 3, A. B. Gunther, Sec; 4, W. E. Stone Fin. Sec.; .5, J W Stark 
Treas • 6, W. J. Hull, D. M.; 7, J. L. Storms, S. V. G.; 8, R. A. Mag-ee, Cbap.; 9, W. A. Budlon|;, L.S.S.; 10, Howard 
Monroe, R. S. S.; 11, E. N. Hamraand, P. G.; 13, F. J. Hoffman, P. G.; 13, G. H. Abbott, P. G.; 14, T. A.Farnsworth.P.G. 

in October 5, 1853, was a dangliter of Ambrose 
Cnrtiss. She was born October 5, 1833, and died 
October 10, 1896. Soon after their marriage, Mr. 



clerk in his father's drug store (now W. I. Stod- 
dard's) and in 1886 received a license as a pharma- 
cist. He next became the buyer for John H. 
Sheehan & Co., wholesale druggists of Utica, N. 
T,. for whom he subsequently traveled, finally 
going to McKesson & Rolibins in New York. His 
only social connection outside of his home circle 
is with the Arcanum club of Utica. By his mar- 
riage with Miss Mary S., the daughter of Dr. Al- 
bert Bickford who during his lifetime was aiirom- 
inent practicing physician 
of Camden, which oc- 
curred June 21, 1882, 
there are three sons, Al- 
bert Bickford, Charles 
Cnrtiss and Donald Tor- 
bert. Mrs. Wetmore's 
gi-andfather, Dr. Horatio 
Torbert and her great- 
grandfather, Dr. Joshua 
Ransom, both on her 
mother's side, were also 
well known practicing 
phyisicians of Camden. 

Giles S. Wetmore who 
was for many years en- 
gaged in business in 
Camden, is now a general 
salesman for the Rubljer 
Paint Co. of New York, 
with headquarters in 
Chicago. He was born in 
Camden, July 23, 1833, 
and after receiving a com- 
mon school education 
became a stone mason. 
His wife, Charlotte M., 
to whom he was married Borrowuil Flioii 



and Mrs. Wetmore moved to Amboy, 111. Upon 
their return to Camden two years later, Mr. Wet- 
more formed a co-partnership with his father-in- 
law, Amltrose Cnrtiss, and they for some time car- 
ried on a general store in the location now occu- 
pied by W. H. Dorrance & Son. From 1862, 
when Messrs. Cnrtiss & Wetmore had resumed 




GKOKGE VANDAWALKERS RESIDENCE. 



86 



'GBIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Borrowed Photos. 

A. W. ABBUTT. 



GEOHGE ABBOTT. 

GEORGE H. 



business in the Cnrtiss block, the latter continued 
in mercantile trade, first with his father-in-law 
and subsequently with his brother-in-law, By- 
ron A. Cnrtiss to whom he sold out in 1870. 
Upon his retii-ement from the drug and grocery 
business which he conducted in what is now the 
Stoddard store, he built and occupied as a drag 
store for manv years the building now owned and 
occupied by C. A. & A. C. Phelps. He sold the 
property and stock of goods in 1890 and removed 
to Chicago where he was engaged for three years 
with a jobbing house. In 1898 he went to Mil- 
waukee as general agent for Heins & Co., severing 
his connection with that firm three years later to 
take the position he now holds with the Rubber 
Paint Co. 

George Abbott's Sons succeeded their fath- 
er to the business in which they are at present en- 
gaged, July 19, 1890. The firm consists of An- 
thony W. Abbott and his 
younger brother, George 
H. Abbott. The business 
comprises a general line 
of groceries, in connec- 
tion with which the firm 
handles coal, lime, 
cement, plaster and other 
material used by masons 
for building. The history 
of the business,its growth 
and steadily increasing 
importance constitute a 
lasting monument to the 
business career of its 
founder as weU as an im- 
portant part of the busi- 
ness history of Camden. 

George Abbott came to 
Camden from New Haven, 
Ct.. in 1850, the ye:u- in 
which the B., W. & O. 
railroad was completed gkinner Photo 
as ftu- as that village, "" GEOItGE 



and took the position of station and 
ticket agent, being the first of 
several who have since occupied 
the same place. In 1852, while 
still in the employ of the raihoad 
company, he entered into co- 
partnership with his brother-in- 
law, Edwin S. Dunbar, and 
Lyman Raymond, to carry on a 
general mercantile business. They 
at once erected the building in 
which the business has been car- 
ried on ever since. It is a large, 
two-story frame structm-e which 
formerly fronted Mexico street and 
includes an addition which was 
built in 1878 at the time the main 
part was altered to o^jen on to Rail- 
road street. 

The] partnershiiJ of Dunbar, 
Raymond & Abbott was of short 
duration, the latter soon succeed- 
ing his two partners and continuing 
the business alone until 1857 when 
he received as a partner his 
brother-in-law, L. L. Clarke, of 
New Haven, Ct.,a merchant tailor. 
, TIT,, .o-n. This association continued for two 

vears under the fti'm name or 
Abbott & Clarke. After that, from May 1, 
1859, to April 1, 1882, Blr. Abbott personally 
conducted and whoUy owned the business. 
When Mr. Clarke was associated with him 
they had a merchant tailoring deijartment, 
besides the general stock of goods usually 
found in country stores. In the earlier years of 
the enterprise large quantities of lumber were 
produced at Camden and INlr. Abbott dealt exten- 
sively with lumbermen, buying and shipping lum- 
ber and shingles as well as butter and cheese in 
which he was also a lai-ge dealer. On the decline 
of the lumber interests the several lines of goods 
necessary for a general stock were discontinued 
until he carried nothing more than groceries in 
connection with building material such as cement, 
lirick, lath, etc. About 1871 he opened a coal 
yard which still forms a large part of the business 
now carried on by his sons. On April 1, 1882, 




ABBOTTS SONS' COAL, LIME AND GROCERY STORE. 



'GBIP'S" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



87 




Skinuer, Photo. L. HOKNUNG'S MILLINEKY STORE. 

Anthony W. Abbott became a partner with his 
father and, (until the latter was finally succeeded 
by George H. Abbott)the name of the firm was 
George Abbott & Son. The retirement of their 
father, (leaving the firm of George AbV)ott's Sons 
to continue the business) on July 19, 1890, was 
due to his failing health and he did not long sur- 
Yive, his death occurring Oct. 11, 1890. 

Anthony W. Abbott was born at New Haven, 
Ct., Aug. 2, 1846, and was ediicated in the Cam- 
den schools. From 1869 to 1875 he occupied a 
clerkship in the hardware store of F. Fifleld & Co., 
which before he left was changed to Fifield & 
Dorrance. Later he wa.s a clerk for an uncle at 
Port Jervis, N. Y., who 
was the secretary and 
treasurer of the Locomo- 
tive Engineers'Tnsurance 
association. Four years 
after leaving Camden he 
returned to his old posi- 
tion with Fifield & Dor- 
rance, which he held until 
he went into business 
"with his father. On Sept. 
3, 1879, he was married 
to Lene B. Lamb, of 
Borne, by whom there is 
one son, GeorgeL. Abbott, 
now 14 years of age. 

Mr. Abbott is an active 
member of the Masonic 
Lodge and Chapter. In 
the lodge he holds the 
post of treasurer. In 1901 
he held the ofiice of 
King in the chapter to 
which he was re-elected 
this year. He is also a 
member of the Knights skimu-r, Photo. 



of Pythias, where he has served as 

Chancellor Commander two terms 
and as representative to the grand 
lodge and where he is now the 
Master of Finance; also being 
secretary of the insurance branch 
linown as the endowment rank- 
His activity in public afl'aii's was 
recognized by the Board of Trade 
when he was made treasurer and 
director of that body. The posi- 
tion of junior warden in the Episco- 
pal church he has held for several 
years, and during the past year 
iie was elected senior warden. 

George H. Abbott was born at 
Camden, Feb. 8, 1855. After a 
year's clerkship in W.C. Carmen's 
grocery, when in his eighteenth 
year, Mr. Abbott became clerk in 
his father's store. In 1884 he 
entered the emj)loy of F. H. 
Conant's Sons as shipping clerk 
and three years later left the jjlace 
to go uito business with his father 
and lirother, where he became a 
partner upon the retirement of the 
former. All of the oflicial honors 
that the local lodge I. O. O. F. 
can bestow have been his. In 1901 
he was district deputy grand mas- 
ter of that order. He has occupied the jjositions of 
treasurer, regent and representative to the grand 
council in the Boyal Arcanum. He was village 
collector and cori^oration clerk. On Oct. 19, 1892, 
he was married to Francis M. Webster, of Pierre- 
pont Manor, Jetferson county, and they have one 
daughter, Sara Abbott, who is six years of age. 

Village Clerks. -1867, John G. Dorrance; 
1868, S, J. Upson; 1869, F. W. Olmstead; 1870, 
B. A. Curtiss; 1871, Egbert More; 1872-3, L. J. 
Conlan; 1874, A. C. Woodrufi'; 1875-7, C. F. 
Linkfield; 1878, C. F. Linkfield and C. S. Mun- 
ger; 1879, 1881, C. S. Munger; 1880, J. C. Davies; 




A. W. AISIiOTT'S RESIDENCE. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Huesteil, Photo. W. S. PECK. 
1882-3, Fred A. Voorhees; 1884, Charles W. Stu- 
art; 1885, E. C. Woodniff; 1886, 1891-2, George 
H. Abbott; 1887, Georg-e H. Abbott and E. C. 
Woodruff; 1888, 1902, A. E. Gunther; 18S9 E D 
Morss: 1890, W. K. Buchanan; 1893, J E Van 
Dyke; 1894-5, C. M. Tyler; 1896-7, John K. Litt- 
ler; 1898, Fred Osborne; 1899, A. C. Parke; 1900, 
Ralph DoTv-nes and B. B. Johnson; 1901, R. c! 
Knapp. 

W. S. Peck, the owner of one of the largest 
dairy farms in the town of Camden, consisting of 
200 acres and located on the Taberg road two 
miles from the village, was born on that place 
February 25, 1856. The farm which is in high 
state of cultivation, has been In the Peck family 
for nearly a century. Eleazer and his wife Han- 
nah Peck were Connecticut people. The first 
named was born January 
6, 1793, and his wife 
July 27,1796. About the, 
time of their marriage 
which occurred February 
16, 1815, they came to 
Camden and built their- 
habitation in the woods. 
The small frame residence 
which they occuiaied 
many years afforded a 
home for theu- son, Daniel 
Parke Peck and his 
family, who succeeded 
them to the ownershij:) of 
the farm, until 1873, when 
the old dwelling was 
moved one side to give 
place to the handsome, 
two-story residence now 
standing. Daniel Parke 
Peck married Julia War- 
ing in 1845. She died 
March 10, 1881. Theii- 
children were Emma 
(Mrs. Stephen McCall), 
Louisa (Mrs. Miles Kel- Pkiuncr, Photo. 



lar), Hannah (Mrs. Charles Kniffin), Mary 
(Mrs. Otto Johnson), and W. S. Peck. The 
latter on February 24, 1881, was married to Anna 
C. Smith of this village. They have two daugh- 
ters, Florence, boi-n July 27, 1885, and Mary born 
January 6, 1889. 

Mr. Peck has spared neither time, labor nor ex- 
pense to bring his farm up to its 2)resent flourish- 
ing condition, and there are no farm buildings in 
the town which afford more conveniences. They 
are liberally supplied with spring water from un- 
failing sources. The house is modern in apjjoint- 
ments and the barns are large and well arranged 
for their respective purposes. One of them with 
its cement floor basement for the dairy, fitted with 
modern stanchions and improved conveniences for 
watering and feeding stock, with a mow floor 
above, accommodates fifty head of cattle. This 
daii-y, comprising Jerseys, Ayrshires and Hol- 
steins, supplies milk to a large village jjatronage, 
over a route which Mr. Peck started in 1890. As 
corn canning is one of the great industries of 
Camden, the farm has largely been devoted to 
raising that product, as high as five thousand 
bushels of sweet corn having been produced on 
the farm in one year. 

Mr. Peck is also interested with Mr. J. E. 
Woods in the canning industry known as the 
Camden Packing Co. In 1896 he was chosen to 
represent the toAvn on the board of supervisors 
and he served in that capacity for two years. The 
fine residence occupied by himself and family, 
which is situated at the corner or Main street and 
Empey avenue, was erected by him in 1900. 

Oneida County, on February 16, 1791, when 
the county of Mi)ntgomery was divided, was a part 
of the new county of Herkimer, which was then 
made to comprise the tract bounded westerly by- 
Ontario county, northerly by the northern b-ound- 
ary of the State, easterly by the counties of Chn- 
ton, Washington and Saratoga, and southerly by 
the counties of Montgomery, Otsego and Tioga. 
By an act of LegislatiU'e, March 5, 1798, Oneida 
and Chenango counties were erected from Herki- 
mer. The former was made to extend from tlie 




W. S. PECK'S RESIDENCE. 



'GBIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



89 



northern boiuidary of the State south to an m-eg- 
ular boundary line running from the southwest 
corner of the town of Bridgewater in a northerly 
and easterly direction to the northerly limits of 
the State. The western boundary, beginning on 
Ontario lake at the mouth of the Oswego river, 
followed that stream and the southern shore of 
Oneida lake to Oneida creek, thence in a southerly 
and easterly dii'ection until by various windings 
it reached the point of beginning. On March 3, 
181)2, the county . f St. La\^Tence and on March 



June 8, 1892. The gi-owth of this Council was 
phenomenal the first and second years of its exis- 
tence. Degree work was participated in on every 
meeting night. Sometimes the whole three de- 
grees were conferred upon classes ranging fiom 
two to eight candidates in a sing e evening. The 
Council gi'ew to such large numbers that in June, 
1894, rooms were fitted up in the Ciu-tiss block 
where it remained until June, 1901, when it re- 
moved to its present quarters, in the ChurchUl & 
Tibbitts block. The foUowing were charter mem- 




Skinner, Pbotos, 

Crack Farm Horses. 

Star liutlrr Milkers. 

Great Milk I'loducers. 

28, 1805, the counties of Jefferson and Lewis were 
erected fi'om Oneida county. The last legislative 
enactment completing the present boundaries of 
Oneida county was passed May 12, 1846, forming 
the town of Ava out of the to"ivn of Boonevihe. 

The O. U. A. M. [See group of officers, 
page 149. J — Camden Council No. 65, was organized 



THE PECK HOMESTEAD. 
Farm llcsidcnco. 



Ayrsbires and Jerseys. 

Hiyh Grade Jerseys. 

Holsteins. 



bers: Aaron A. Raymond, John E. HalstaacI, 
Charles F. Ward, R. H. Gardner, W. R. Halstead, 
Joseph A. Hull, Gilbert Quance, A. McCarthy , 
L. B. Ward, John Wood, G. H. Rush, Frank 
Miiyer, Emory Diine, A. B. Moyer, O. C. Doyle, 
W.'A. Rowell, James H. Miller, George W. Dana, 
Byron Franklin, Frankhn Skinner, Will M. Pond, 
James W. Stark. 



90 



'GEIP'S" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 




Borrowed t'lit. 



L. P. HAVILAND'S RESTnENCE. 



all done three hun- 
dred and fifty hands 
are employed at this 
iactory. The three 
store honses cou- 
nected with it, hav- 
ing an aggregate ca- 
pacity for 35,000 
cases, which is 840,- 
000 cans, are then 
filled to siipjjly the 
trade dviring the en- 
suing year, besides 
what cans are sent 
out to meet the im- 
mediate demand. 
The factory is 
equipped for the 
manufacture of all 
the cans that are 
used, from stamping 
them out of the sheet 
tin to putting on the 
finishing touches. 
The jirocess of can- 
ning, little known to 
the public, is inter- 
esting. The corn is 
deliyered at the fac- 



L. P. Haviland's canning business was devel- 
oped from a small plant which had its beginning 
as far back as 1866. At that time Mr. James A 
Day erected the building which now forms a part 
of the i^resent factory. He carried on canning 
until 1870 when he disposed of the business to 
John W. Mix. In 1881 it feU into the hands of 
Phelps Bros, who ran it for about three years. 
Mr. Hayiland came to Camden from New York 
and took possession of 
the plant m 1888. In the 
outset under his man- 
agement the product of 
the factory consisted of 
canned fruit and vegeta- 
bles. It was demon- 
strated, however, that the 
soil about Camden was 
especially favorable for 
raising sweet corn, so as 
fast as Mr. Haviland could 
contract for increased 
acreage, the resoiu'ces of 
the jjlant wei'e lai'gely 
devoted to caiming corn. 
A considerable quantity 
of beans are also put up, 
the principal jsart of 
which are the sti'ings. 
The goods that go out 
fi'om this factory are sold 
through the large job- 
bers, principally in New 
York city and to a con- 
siderable extent in other 
parts of the country. The 
average annual produc- 
tion is about a million 
cans. There are several 
brands all of which find a 
ready market. There is 
also an export trade for 
these goods. Din-ing Ju- 
ly, Aiigust and Septem- 
ber when the canning is 



tory and weighed in husks which are stripjjed ott' 1 )y 
hand. The percentage of weight for the corn out 
of the husks is obtained for each grower's crop by 
sample. Machines ciit the corn from the colj and 
it then goes into a "silker" which sifts the corn 
from liits of col) and husks and cleans out the silk. 
From the vat where the com is cooked by a heat 
of 200 degrees, it jjasses into the cans fiUmg them 
at the rate of 68 a minute. The cans carried along 
on an endless chain ai'e soldered and sealed by 




Skinner, Photos. 



HAVILAND'S CANNING FACTORY. 
Factory Bnildins. Ollice. 



'GBIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



91 




Borrowed Photo. 



E. W. FISHS KESIUENCE. 



macliinerY. Those imperfectly sealed are sorted 
■out. The others are jailed iu metal crates and 
placed in large, tightly closed steam retorts where 
they are kept for an hour in a temperatui-e of 248 
•degrees. On coming from the retorts the cans are 
•cooled and packed away ready for labeling. 

Schools, their Origin. — The first in the State 
•was opened iu New Amsterdam in 1633 by Adam 
Borlaudsen. In 1702 the pro'i'ince ajiproi^riated 
:.f2.50 per annum for a gi'ammar school in New 
York. In 1732 a free school was endowed with 
$200 per annum for five years, providing for ten 
scholars from New York, two from Albany and one 
•each from the other countie°. This was the germ 
■of Columbia College. In 174;3 at Cherry VaUey, 
the first grammar school ui the State west of Al- 
laany was estabUshed by Rev. Dunlap. In 17-16 



and 1756 money was raised by lottery to estabhsh 
a college in New York. In 175-1 Kings (Columbia) 
college was chartered. In 1795 the common 
school system was established and .$50,000 annu- 
ally provided therefor. In 1801 four lotteries were 
estabhshed to raise, each, $25,000. This was the 
foundation of the literature and common school 
fund. In 1805 the net proceeds of 500,000 acres of 
pubhc lands and 3,000 shares of bank stock were 
appropriated as a fund for the use of the common 
schook to accumulate until the interest should 
amount to $50,000 jser annum, which was then to 
be distributed as the legislature should direct. In 
1811 preparatory measures, and in 1812, final ac- 
tion were taken to organize the school system. In 
1H13 Gideon Hawley was appointed superintendent 
of the common schools, the beginning of the pres- 
ent system of jjubhc schools. 




liorroweii Photo 



KDHEKT HUMXEICS liESIDENCE. 



92 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAX, SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Huested, Photo. S. G. McKILLIP. 

S. G. McKillip, whose success as a farmer 
Jairvman has been fairly earned through his nn- 
tu-ing industry and careful, painstaldng manage- 
ment of small property interests which he in- 
creased as fast as his well husbanded resources 
permitted, was born in Kii-kcutbrightshire, village 
of Rhonehouse, Scotland, November 11, 1836. 
His father was what is known in that country as a 
trafficker; that is, one whobiays and sells produce, 
his dealings being largely in farmers' produce 
which he bought for the Liveri^ool market. 
Through a friend of his mother, a youQg woman 
who lived in the town of Florence, Mr. S. G. Mc- 
Killip's parent.s had theii' attention attracted to 
this part of the State. On August 12, 18i9 they 
landed in New York, whence they at once came to 
Florence and settled on a small farm of which the 
elder McKillip forthwith V)ecame the owner. 
Afterwards he purchased a farm of 52 acres on 
AVolcott Hill in the town of Camden, which sub- 
sequently passed into the 
hands of his son. The 
latter upon his maiTiage 
with ElizabethMcFerren, 
March 1, 1865, took pos- 
session of the place which 
then comprised 65 acres, 
Mr. McKillij) was a good 
ilau'vman and a careful 
manager and, in the fall 
of 1888 when he disposed 
of the place to make his 
home on a small farm 
which he had bought 
near the -^dllage of Cam- 
den, it included 130 acres 
and was a first class dairy 
farm. No small sum of 
money had been spent m 
improving the buildings 
and the dairy had l)een 
brought up to a highly 
productive c o n d ition. 
After leaving Wolcott Borrowed Pboto. 



Hill Mr. McKillip bought and sold farming- 
property near Camden with fair profits on his in- 
vestments. At that time there was a demand for" 
lumber at the furniture factories and for bark at 
the tanneries at home. He bought tracts of 
Avoodland for the lumber and bark which he 
largely cut down with his own hands, and which 
proved i^rofitable investments. In 1896 he erected 
the pretty dwelling on Osw^ego street where he 
now resides, and in the fall of that year moved 
into it. For the past fourteen years he has been 
in the employ of L. P. Havilaud, making eon- 
tracts with the farmers for the sujjplies for Havi- 
land's cnnning factory, inspecting the crops and 
re|.orting estimates of the harvest and making' 
himself otherwise useful to that institirtion. In 
his earlier years Mr. McKillip was an active Re- 
publican worker in his district. Owing to his 
knowledge of real estate valuations he was selected 
as one of the State appraisers to determine the 
value of public proijerty A\hieh, under the old 
State lunacy law, taking the care of the insane out 
of the hands of counties, was to be [laid for liy the 
State. In 1897. when the Board of Sujiervisors 
of Lewis County appointed a compromise com- 
mission on equalization for the towns of that 
county, Mr. McKilhp was selected as one of the 
number, a position he filled for the term of three 
yeai's, receiving in 1901 a reapiaointment for the 
second term. Mr. McKiUip since becoming a 
resident of the ^dllage has shown an interest in its 
welfare m many ways, at one time serving as a 
member of the board of trustees, and at another 
time as a water commissioner for three years. 
Becoming identified with the Presbyterian cliureh 
he has contril)uted according to his means to its 
support. Of five children, Margaret is the only 
one now living. Mrs. C. M. Letts, a sister of Mr. 
McKillip, resides in Camden. Their father died 
at Glens Falls in 1900 and their mother at Cam- 
den in 1877. 

Population U. S. Cities {above 200,r00).— 
New York, 3,f:37,202, CUiicago, 1,698,575, Philadel- 
phia, Pa. 1,293,697, St. Louis, Mo. 575,238, Bos- 
ton, Mass. 560,892, Baltimore, Md. 508,957, Cleve- 
land, O. 381,768, Buffalo, N. Y. 352,387, S.an 
Francisco, Cal. 312,782, Cincinnati, O. 325,902. 













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W. E. STONE'S RESIDENCE. 



'GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



93 




Huested, Photos. 

CHARLES E. OKR. 



RICHARD H. GARDNER. 



Pittsburg, Pa. 321,616, New Orleans, La. 287,104- 
Deti-oit, Mich. 285,701:, Milwaukee, Wis. 285,31.5, 
Washington. D. C. 278,718, Newark, N. J. 240,070, 
Jersey City, N. J. 20(j,l:33, Louisville, Ky. 20i,731, 
Minneapolis, Minn. 202,718. 

Orr & Gardner formed, the co-partnershiji for 
dealing in farmers' supplies, such as flour, feed, 
provisions, farm implements, wood, salt, etc., in 
the spring of 1901. They bought of C. M. Tib- 
betts on Masonic avenue a tract of ground extend- 
ing eleven rods along the street and sixteen rods 
along the raih'oad and having a depth of from 100 
to 150 feet. They first erected a store house 28x 
68 feet. This was in June, 1901. In July they 
erected in the rear a building 30x40 feet which 
they equipped with the latest Noyes six -roll feed 
mUl capable of grinding into feed four tons of 
grain an hoiu'. Before 
the close of the year they 
had installed in a new 
engine house, 18x31 feet, 
a forty-horse power 
engine and fifty -horse 
power boiler. 

The growth of their 
business was such as de- 
manded, at once, facilities 
for handling grain in the 
most exjjeditious manner. 
The fai'mers soon learned 
that anything they had 
to dispose of could br 
exchanged with Orr ct 
Gardner, and their jjlace 
soon became knoA\u for 
miles around Camden as 
the Farmers' Exchange, 
the name they fortliwitli 
adopted and had painted 
upon their buildings. 

In the rear is a side 
track 180 feet long which 



enables them to load or unload cars direct 
with the mm. A steam elevator lifts to the 
upiier floor where there are sixteen bins each 
of Avhieh connects with the hopper by 
means of a shute. The miller without leav- 
ing his post, liy drawing a slide, opens 
any of the bins he may deshe. By means 
of a lever he can adjust the roUs instantly 
so as to grind into the finest meal or the 
coarsest feed. 

The api^roach to the mUl leads to a large 
platform where farmers unload. At ihe 
right of the entrance is the office, and be- 
yond, the floor occupied by articles brought 
in for exchange. This opens into the mill 
with doors opening ujion the trades in the 
rear and into the engine room at the right. 
The bins have an aggregate capacity for 
storing 30,000 liushels of grain, 500 barrels 
of flour and twenty cars of feed. The 
cellar is constructed for storing potatoes 
and apples, where they may Vie kept in the 
best condition that is possilile in ordinary 
storage. 

Charles E. Orr was born in Taberg, 
Oneida County, N. Y., April 5, 1850. 
fcteubenville, O., became his home two 
years later and on March 1, 1865, it was 
changed to Camden. At 13 years of age, 
while Hving at Steubenville, he was placed 
in the engine room of an Ohio river boat, and had 
two years' experience learning to rmi an engine. 
In 1866 he obtained a position in the cotton fac- 
tory at Clark's MiUs, N. Y., which he held three 
years. 

On April 1, 1868, he accepted a clerkship with 
C. J. Wi-ight, Camden, who was then engaged in 
the grocery and drug business in the Hendley 
block. On March 1, 1877, in company with D. 
G. Dorrance he bought out the general store of 
O. H. Kniffin & Co., on the j^re-sent site of Roscoe 
Smith's, which the two conducted for three years 
under the name of Dorrance & Orr. Mr. Orr 
sold out to Mr. Dorrance and on August 1, 1880, 
entered into company with W. H. Hodges who 
was conducting a drug and grocerj' business 
across the street. The firm of Hodges & Orr 
continued seven years when the latter took the 




Skinner, Photo. 
ORR & GARDNERS RAILROAD FEED MILLS AND FARMERS EXCHANGE. 



94 



'GfllP'S" HI8T0KICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 




Huested, Photo. W. A. BUDLONG. 

entire business and carried it on until June 1, 
1901, when he sold ont to Orr & Horuung, the 
flrst of -whom is his son. 

On September 30, 1872, Mr. Orr manied Miss 
Libbie Wilson of Camden. They had twelve 
sons and a daughter of whom all but three are 
living. Mr. Orr is a charter member of the 
Knights of Pythias where he held the ijost of Pre- 
late for three years. He is also a member of the 
Congregational Church. 

Mr. Richard H. Gardner, Mr. Orr's brother-in- 
law, was born July 14, 18i2, at Florence, Oneida 
county, N. Y. \\Tjiile he was attending school 
there," his father and mother both died. Until 
the spring of 1859, when he found employment at 
Borne with Doig & Lee, contractors and builders, 
his time was occupied in learning the trade and 
getting an ediTcation. 
Thrown upon his own re- 
sources when quite young 
he was compelled to earn 
enough in the summer to 
provide for his necessi- 
ties and go to school in 
the winter. In the win- 
ter of 18.58-9 he attended 
the Camden high school. 

On September 5, 1861, 
he enlisted at Rome in 
Co. C, 50th New York 
Engineering Corps, 
which was mustered in 
at Elnm-a, N. Y. He 
served three years in the 
Army of the Potomac, 
returning home in Sep- 
tember, 1864. His army 
record includes the hot- 
test campaigns under the 
several commanders of 
that army. 

Returniog to a life of 
loeaceful pursuits he 



worked at his trade nearly two years at Osceola, 
Lewis County, N. Y. Then he located at Cam- 
den, first finding employment with Cox & Stone, 
and later on, in 1885, going into partnertship under 
the tirm name of Gardner & Wakefield. They 
conducted the planing mill now owned by George 
W. Dana for two years, when Mr. Dana became 
Mr. Gardner's partner, the latter retiring from 
that business in 1896. 

Mr. Gardner is a charter member and was the 
flrst Quarter-master of J. Parson Stone Post No. 
482, G. A. E., and is a member of the Masonic 
order. He is a member of the M. E. Church. 
He was assessor of the corporation seven years 
and town collector one year. On May 21, 1866, 
he married Elizabeth Orr of New York Mills. 
Miss Emma Gardner, one of the public school 
teachers in C'aniden, is their daughter. 

Dr. Wi A. Budlong was born in Clinton, N. 
Y., in 1852. He began the .study of dentistry with 
Dr. J. D. Huntiagton, of Watertown, N. Y., in 
187(), and in the whiter of 1877 and '78 he attended 
the Philadelphia Dental college, at Philadelphia, 
Pa. In 1879 he married Miss Addie E. Thomas, 
of Remsen, N. Y., and commenced the practice of 
dentistry in Chnton, N. Y. During the year of 
1881 he" bought the office of Dr. Robinson at 
Utica, and removed to that city. With the ex- 
ception of three years spent in Omaha, Neb., he 
has since continuously practiced his jirofession in 
this state. In 1895 he came to Camden and 
bought the business of Dr. Frank MUler. Here 
his practice has grown by reason of competent and 
faithful attention to a first-class ]iat-ronage. Five 
children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Bndlong, 
three sons and two daughters. The eldest son, 
George M., is a student in the Bufi'alo Dental 
college. 

First Village Officers. — They were the fol- 
lowing, elected June 27, 1834: President, Lyman 
Curtis; Tru.stees, Humphrey Bi-own, A. H. Hink- 
ley, Hubbard Tuthill and Aaron Stone; Assess- 
ors, Rufus Byiugton, David Johnson and (ieorge 
Trowbridge; Collector and Constable, Martin H. 
Stevens; Treasiu'er, Robert H. Biut. 




Borrowed Photo, 

LANSING TUTTLE'S RESIDENCE AND STORE, (THE POSTOFFICE). 
McConnellsville, N. Y. 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



95 




HuesTed. Photo. 



GEORGE W. DANA. 



Cabinet Officers; when created. — Secretai'y of 
State, July, 1789; Secretary of the Treasury, Sep- 
tember 2, 1789; Secretary of War, August 7, 1789; 
Postmaster-General, September 22, 1789; Attorney- 
General, September 22, 1789; Secretaiy of the 
Navy, April 30, 1798; Secretary of the Interior, 
1849; Secretary of AgTicultui-e, Febniary 9, 1889. 
The latest cabinet position for which Congress has 
enacted a law is that of Secretary of Commerce. 
Cabinet officers are not specifically recognized in 
the constitution. All are created by statute. 
The constitution simply authorizes the president 
to "requii-e the opinion in wi-iting of the jarinci- 
pal officer in each of the executive departments 
upon any subject relating to the duties of their 
i respective offices." 

, Population, Cities, 100,000 to 200,000 [see 
larger cities jjage 92]. — Providence, R. I. 175,597, 
Indianai^ohs, dd. 1(59,- 
164, Kansas City, Mo. 163, 
752, St. Paul, Minn. 163,- 
065, Rochester, N. Y. 
162,608, Denver, Col. 
133,859, Toledo, O. 131,- 
822, AUegheny, Pa. 129,- 
896, Columbus, 0.125,- 
560, Worcester, Mass. 
118,421, Syracuse, N. Y., 
108,374, New Haven, Ct. 
108,027, Paterson, N. J. 
105,171, Fall River, Mass. 
104,863, St. Joseph, Mo. 
102,979, Omaha, Neb. 
102,555, Los Angeles, Cal, 
102,479, Memphis, Tenn. 
102,320, Scianton, Pii. 
102,026. 

The trustee of state 
buildings are the Gov- 
ernor, Lieutenant-Gover- 
nor and Speaker of the 
Assembly. 



George W. Dana, manufacturer of a line of 
si^ecialties in furniture and builders' supphes, 
bought an interest in the firm of R. H. Gardner & 
Co., in 1888, when Mr. Wakefield of the firm of 
Wakefield, Gardner & Co., retu-ed. At that time- 
they conducted a jjlaning mill. Quincey Barber 
■was a me caber of the firm until 1890 when he 
withdrevT and it was thereafter Gardner & Dana. 
In 1896, Mr. Dana bought the enthe plant of his- 
partner, Mr. Gardner, and subsequently added the 
furniture specialties. These comprise center ta- 
bles made of golden, plain and quartered oak and 
imitation mahogany; golden oak tabourettes, 
combination book cases and commodes, all of 
which are sold du-ect to the retailer by Mr. Dana's 
salesmen. The buildings comprised in this lurge 
factory ai'e the main work shop, equipped with the 
necessary machinery, driven by water j:)ower 
which can be made to develop forty horse jaower, 
a store house 20x50 feet with double floor space, 
and lumber sheds 48x76, having the capacity for 
twenty car loads of lumber. The shop, 40x80 feet, 
includes a basement and two floors, with planing,, 
matching and re-sawing machines in the basement,, 
the first floor being used for cutting up the ma- 
terial and the second floor for finishing. There is 
a steam dry kOn ^rith a capacity sufficient to jsre- 
pare for use aU of the lumber that can be worked 
up, as fast as is needed. A brick boiler house, 
30x30 feet, shelters a 25-horse pow-er engine ancl 
40-horse power boiler which furnish power for the 
dynamo used in fighting the buildings and supply 
the steam requii-ed for the kfln and for heating. 
The lumber used consists of Georgia and Michigan 
pine, and oak which is largely obtained in the- 
West, the South and in Canada. George W. 
Diina was bom in Camden October 20, 1863, andl 
in 1871 moved to Utica with his parents and there 
attended school until 1880, when he retiu'ned to 
Camden and went to farming on the Mexico road. 
On January 23, 1884 he married LiUie D. Cui-tiss 
of this village. He is a member of the Presbyter- 
ian cburch and is both an Odd Fellow and a. 
Mason. 




Skinner, Photo. 

CAMDEN PLANING MILL, GEORGE W. DANA, Proprietor. 



"GKIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIE OF CABIDEN. 




A. C. HORNUNG. (Borrowed) 



J. H. ORU (Huestcd) 



Orr & Hornung, grocers, succeeded C. E. Orr 
in Jime, 1901, ami the husiness under tlieii- care- 
ful management, which prior to the time it came 
into their jjossession was considered to be one of 
the leading places for trade, has thrived and in- 
creased both in volume and chai'aoter. Both are 
young men whose endeavors to please their 
patrons have not been in vara. Their stock in- 
cludes all that is usually sold by grocers and in 
addition thereto a special line of teas and cofl'ees 
Mr. J. H. Orr, the son of C. E. Orr, the former 
proprietor of the store, clerked for Hodges & Orr 
when that fii-m carried on the business and after- 
■\\iu-ds, when C. E. Orr succeeded to his partner's 
interest, his son was the bookkeeper. Mr. Orr 
Wius born in Camden, Feb. 26, 1877, and was edu- 
cated in the Camden schools. On Oct. 20, 1896, 
he married Gertrude Tufts, of Vienna. He is a 
member of the Odd Fel- 
lows fraternity. During 
his sjiare hours he has 
used the camera to a good 
advantage and has be- 
come quite an expert in 
amateur viewing. Mr. 
A. C. Hornung was l)orn 
in Utica, Aug. 25, 1862. 
When he was four years 
of age his jjarents removed 
to Booneville where he 
resided twelve years, lie- 
ing employed for a time 
as an ujiholsterer. Com- 
ing to Camden when 16 
years of age to take em- 
laloyment in Conant's 
furniture factory where 
he was employed twenty - 
one years, he became so 
well pleased with the vil- 
lage that he decided to 
make it his home. Tak- 
ing an active interest 
in the tire department, 
he was, seven years ago, 
elected chief which jiosi- 
tion he held for a year. 
He is affiliated witli the 



orders of American Mechanics and the 
Knights of Pythias. He was married to 
Elizabeth Tassey, of Watertown, June 25, 
1890. 

State Officers, Salaries — Governor, 
■IflO.OOO; lieutenant-governor, 15,000; secre- 
tary of state, ,$5,000; comptroller, ,$6,000; 
state treasurer, .$5,000; attorney general, 
$5,000; state engineer and surveyor, $5,000; 
superintendent of public instruction, $5,000; 
snperinteudeut of ]inl:)lic works, .$6,000; 
superintendent of insurance, $7,000; super- 
intendent of prisons, $6,000; excise com- 
missioner, $5,000; state charity commis- 
sioner, $10 per day actual duties' (limited to 
$500) ; state prison commissioner, same (lim- 
ited to $i,000 for all); superintendent of state 
prisons, .$6,000; railroad commissioner, $8,- 
00(1; judge of the court of claims, $5,000; 
tax commissioner, .$2,500; commissioner of 
agriculture, $4,000; commissioner of fish- 
eries ixnd game, .$2,500 (president, .$3,000); 
state factory inspector, $3,000; labor arbi- 
trator, .$3,000; civil service commissioner, $2,000; 
commissioner of labor statistics, $3,000. 

Rivers, Longest in the World.— Amazon, 

3,600 miles; Nile, 3,000 mUes; Missouri (to: its 
junction with the Mississippi), 2,900; Missouri to 
the sea, 4,100; Blississippi, 4,000; Lena, 2,600; 
Niger, 2,600; Obe, 2,500; St. Lawrence, 2,200; 
Maderia, 2,000, Arkansas, 2,000; Volga, 2,000; 
Rio Gr,ande, 1,800; Danube, 1,600; St. Francisco, 
1,300; Columbia, 1,200; Nebraska, 1,200; Red 
River, 1,200; Colorado (in California), 1,100; 
Yellowstone, 1,000; Ohio, 950; Rhine, 950; Kan- 
sas, 900; Tennessee, 800; Red River of the north, 
700; Cumberland, 600; Alabama, 600; Susque- 
hanna, 500; Potomac, 500; James, 500; Connecti- 
cut, 450; Delaware, 400; Hudson, 350; Kenebec, 
300; Thames, 233. 




J. H. Urr, PUdti: 



I.NTliltlUK VIEW (IF ()U|{ i HORNUNG'S STORE. 



^■GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



97 




Huested, Photo. H. L. BORLAND, M. D. 

Van Dyke & Hammand, the merchant tailors 
and gentlemen's iiirnishers, began biisiness hj the 
organization of the above firm, at the place where 
they are now located, in October, 1898. The 
l)u8iness, started by them entuvly new, has 
steadily grown in public favor and commands u 
patronage from the several outlying villages and 
adjacent country as well as in the village of Cam- 
den. It is carried on strictly on a cash basis. 
This firm occupies a largely equipped store with 
work rooms for custom made goods on the second 
floor. Both partners were connected with other 
mercantile establishments in town previous to the 
time they opened this store and are, therefore, 
well acquainted with the trade and its demands. 
They are both identified with the leading social 



and fraternal orders. Mr. J. E. Van Dyke was 
born in Vienna, Oneida county, N. Y., December 
17, 1865. For the first few years after commg to 
Camden, in 1888 and 189.5 inclusive, he was en- 
gaged in the grocery business. After that he 
clerked for George J. Batchelor, the clothier. 
On Christmas day, 1887, he married Miss Etta E 
Audiis, of Vienna. He has served as clerk of the 
viUage corporation and as police justice. At the 
present time he is village collector. He is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic lodge and the Royal Arcanum. 





Hiu-stp<l, Fhoto.'i. 

J. E. VAN DYKE. 



E. N. HA.MMAND. 



Skinner, Photo. 

ORE & HORNUNGS GROCERY. 

Mr. E. N. Hammand, was born at Heuvelton, St. 
Lawrence county, N. Y., April 15, 1869, and' was 
educated in the schools at Rensselaer Falls, N. Y. 
For a1)out a year he was emploved in the sash 
and blind factory of M. D. Moore & Sons at Low- 
ville, Lewis Co., N. Y., after which he 
accepted the position of clerk with Weber 
& Co., a dry goods house of that village 
which he filled for four vears. Then he 
came to Camden to take a' similar position 
m the clothing house of Charles J. Durr & 
Co., where he was located three vears and 
SIX months. Then he took charge of the 
dry goods department in the store of Wil- 
liams & Norton and was with that firm 
about four years, a business connection 
which he severed to engage in trade 
with Ins present jiartner. Mr. Hammand 
and Miss Lillian Barber, of West Camden, 
were united in marriage June 19, 1895. He 
occupies the position of Master of PhDan- 
thropic lodge, No. 164, F. & A. M., being 
now in the second term, and is past grand 
of Camden lodge, No. 718, I. O. O. F He 
is also a du'ector in the Camden Board of 
Trade. 

Harry Lincoln Borland, M. D., was 

born at Franklin, Venango Co., Pa., August 
9, 1866. His academic education began in 
the fall of 1882, with his entrance to Cham- 
erlam Institute at Randolph, Cattaraugus 
Co., N. Y., where he remained for one 
year. After an interval of six years, four 



98 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Huested, Photo. W. I. STODDARD. 

of which were spent in teaching, he entered Caz- 
enovia Seminary, in 1889, graduating in 1891, 
with the honor of class president. In the fall of 
1891 he entered Wesleyan University at Middle- 
town Ct., in the classical course. While there he 
became a member of the freshman class society 
"Kai Gar," and the Greek letter fraternity Beta 
Theta Pi. The following year he entered the 
medical department of the University of the City 
of New York, graduating in 1895 as valedictorian 
of his class of one hundred and one graduates. 
On June 1, 1895, he passed the State Board exam- 
ination in medicine and surgery and on Jime 25th 
of the same year opened an office in Camden, 
where he has been active- 
ly engaged in the prac- 
tice of his profession ever 
since. Dr. Borland is 
a member of the Oneida 
County Medical Society, 
and is also a member of 
the consulting staff of St. 
Luke's Hosijital, Utica, 
N. Y. On September 4, 
1895, he married Flora 
A. Moon of Cold Brook, 
Herkimer Co., N. Y., 
and in April, 1901, they 
purchased theu' present 
home on the corner of 
Main and Washington 
streets. 

Getting Popular. — 

Why are bald headed 
men getting more popu- 
lar with the ladies? "Be- 
cause," replied a Camden 
lady, "the condition of 
the jJoU indicates that the 
fortunate geulenien have 
already been subdued." 



W. I. Stoddard, the druggist and grocer, in. 

May, 1895, bought the whole mterest in his Main 
street business of his partner, Mr. E. A. Harvey. 
This store was conducted by Mr. Harvey for many 
years. It is one of the oldest places of business 
in the village, where several difterent parties have 
at various times been engaged in trade. Stone 
& Smith erected the building, comprising Mr. 
Stoddard's and the store next to it on the south, 
w hich then together formed a double store. Jlr. 
Stone finally went west and Mr. Smith took what 
is now the Stoddard store which he had separated 
from the other by running a partition through and 
put in a stock of" drugs. After running this busi- 
ness awhile he sold out to G. S. Wetmore, ^ho 
subsequently moved his stock across the way. 
Mr. Harvey then rented the store formerly occu- 
pied by Mr. Wetmore. The business now com- 
jn-ises a grocers' general line an<l a complete drug- 
department, inchiding the usual accessories such 
as oils and paints. Mr. Stoddard is a member of 
the Board of Educatian, going on his second year 
of service, and a director of the board of trade. 
He was born on a farm south of the village of 
Camden, Feb. 9, 1857. His father, Israel Stod- 
dard, was the son of one of the first settlers in the 
town. The latter, Judge Israel Stoddard, was born 
in Watertown, Ct., in 1776. When he was in his 
twenty-second year he came to this section on 
horseback, carrying his supphes for the journev in 
his saddlebags. He purchased the timber covered 
acres two miles south of the village of Ezra Dev- 
ereaux, which he subsequently cleared, largely 
with his own hands. The winter following his 
pioneer journey to Camden lie retiu-ned east and 
married Polly WOson at Harwinton, Ct., and in 
the sprmg, 1799, they came on to the primative 
home that was partly jn-epai-ed by Mr. Stoddard 
to receive his bride. ' In 1802 he sold the place to 
John Wilson, Sr., liut it afterwiuds came into the 
possession of his son Israel, and it was there that 
W. I. Stoddard was born. In 1895, Judge Stod- 



r,:..I.J..X.QSD.A;BB. 




?kinner, Photo. 

W. I. STODDAKD'y DRUG AND GltOCEKY STORE. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



99 




Huested, Photo. S.L.HARDING, 
darcl bouglit the farm where lie afterwards lived 
and where on April i, 1859, he died. Thii3 farm 
has since been known as the Judge Stoddard 
place. His first wife died in 1820. A few years 
later he married Mary Wilson, who sui'vived him 
about ten years, her death occurring May 22,1869. 
Judge Stoddard was a militiaman during the 
war of 1812, although his service consisted wholly 
in mai-ching to Saokett's Hai-bor and back again 
with his reghnent. His childi-en were WeUs, 
Israel, John, Mrs. T. D. Penfield and Mrs. H. B. 
Judson, aU of whom are now Imng, and Cynis. 
Mrs. Lansing McConnell, Hicox, Mrs. Martha, 
Baker and Mary Stoddard who ai'e dead. Mr. 
W. I. Stoddard in 1874 began can- 
ning corn in a building on his 
father's farm, which he equipped 
for that purpose. This he carried 
on for a few years. On April .5, 
1883,he married Clai-a,the daughter 
of Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Harvey. 
Theu- two children are Huldah, the 
eldest, and Carohne. In the fah 
of that year Mr. Stoddard began 
a clerkship for his father-in-law, 
which continued for three and a 
hall years. Dui-ing the season of 

1887 he and B. B. Tuthill con- 
ducted what is now the Haviland 
factory, and the following year 

Mr. Stoddai-d carried on the same 

enterprise at Oriskauy FiJls. In 

1891, again in company with B. 

B. Tiithhl, he engaged in canning 

corn in this village, erecting 

the factory on Liberty street, 

which they now occupy, a,ud 

equipping it with facilities which 

enalile them to put up a fan- share 

of the product that aimuidly goes 

out of Camden. 



S. L. Harding, the jeweler and optician, has 
carried on business at his present location for 
nearly fifteen years, he in company with E. G. 
Shader having in 1887 bought the stock in trade 
which I. Duncan was at that time carrying. It 
included besides jeweh-y, tobacco and cigars and 
the lines generally can-ied in a stationery store and 
newsroom. Mr. Shader reth-ed from the business 
three years later but before he got out the firm 
disposed of the news and tobacco lines to E. D. 
Morss. The next year Mr. Harding added crock- 
ery which has been made a complete department 
to' the extent that it includes the finer grades only, 
taking in also cut glass, art pottery and lamps. 
Having prepared himself by taking a practical 
course as an optician Mr. Harding makes a spe- 
cialty of fitting glasses for the eyes. He employs 
for r'epah-ing time pieces and optical goods Mr. O. 
P. Philips, a graduate of the Waltham horological 
school and also an optician and engi'aver on jewelry. 
The jewelry department comprises, among the 
usual' lines a great variety of solid silverware and 
diamonds. Mr. Harding was born m Amboy, 
Oswego county, N. Y., Aug. 12, 1862. When ten 
yeai-s old he became a resident of Camden. Bow- 
land Harding, his father, had then gone into the 
grocery business in this village. Later the latter 
was associated with George R. Sheppard in the 
same business and it was in then- store that his 
son after leaving school, filled a clerkship of three 
years. He was also for six years a clerk for Fifield 
& Dorrance. In June, 1888, he was married to 
Miss Mary S. Harvey. He was elected school 
commissioner in 1893 and served for three years, 
and is now on his second term as member of the 
board. For several years he held the office of 
town clerk. He is a member of the Masonic 
lodge and chapter and the Royal Arcanum. 

Globe, Trip Around. — Chicago to PortlanI, 
Ore., 2,374 miles — 3 days 8 hours time; Portland 
to Behring Strait, 2,864 m —5 d. 10 h. ; Behrmg 
Strait to Irkutsk, 3,200 m.— 6 d. 16 h. ; Irkutsk t3 




'''^'"""'s.^l'Tiakuing-s jewelry and crockery store. 



100 



'GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 




EDWIN A. HARVEY (Bori-owcdi 

MES. CAROLINE P. HARVEY (Huestc 

St. Peterslrai-gh, 3,670 m.— 7 d. 15 h. ; St. Peters- 
Irargh to Berlin, 983 m. — 1 d. 6 h. ; Berlin to 
Paris, 667 m. — 17 li. ; Paris to London, 2£8 m. — 
8 h. ; London to Liverpool, '202 m. — 4 h. ; London 
to Southamton, 79 m. — 2 li. ; Liverpool to New 
York, 3,068 m. — 5d. Sli. ; Southampton to New 
York, 3,098 m.— 5 d. 16 h. ; New York to Chicago, 
912 m.— 1 d. Total distance traveled, 18,277 m.; 
total time occupied, 31 d. 21 h. 

E. A. Harvey was for years one of Cam- 
den's well known and much resj^ected business 
men who conducted a drug and grocery store on 
"the sunny side of Main street." For nearly 
thu'ty years he was in Varsiness and the genial, 
whole souled face of Mr. Harvey was one of the 
most familiar on the street. E(h\in Augustus 
Harvey was born in 
Vienna, N. Y., Jan. 27, 
1842, and died in Cam- 
den,N. Y., July 6, 1896. 
He was the only child of 
Ambrose and Sopronia 
Harvey and spent his 
eai'ly life on the farm 
assisting his parents and 
attending the district 
school. Hence his early 
advantages were of neces- 
sity, meagre, but such 
surroundings helped to 
develop habits of industry 
and economy, which were 
of great service to him 
in after years. At a very 
early age his spirit of in- 
dependence manifested 
itself in the desire to sup- 
port himself, and various 
kinds of employment 
kept him busy. Some 
part of his boyhood days 
were spent with Eev. Skiuuer, riwito 



Elijah Gaylord, at that time a manufacturer 
of hand rakes. Later on he traveled for 
Lewis J. Burton with a horse and carriage, 
supplying district libraries with books. In 
this -way he visited nearly every county in 
New York state. At the age of 23 he was 
clerking in the produce store of L. S. San- 
ford & J. A. Dodge, Camden, and soon after 
entered into partnershij:) with Mr. Sanford, 
the firm doing business in a basement on 
the west side of Main street. The following- 
year he purchased Mr. Sanford's interest 
and ever after condircted business alone. 
A little later he moved into G. K. Shepjaard's 
store, now occupied by E. J. Castle, and 
soon after into a store of his own, where he 
added a drug department and where the 
business is now carried on by his son-in-law, 
W. I. Stoddard. He was a natural business 
man and unusually successful in his busi- 
ness career, possessing a deal of energy, 
economy and tact; as a result, by his own 
unaided efforts, he became one of the most 
successful and influential men of Camden. 
Mr. Harvey was in the true sense of the 
term a self-made man, true to his convictions 
of right, of sterling integrity and honesty 
and with a kind and generous disposition. No 
needy person or just cause was ever turned aside 
without help. He was of a pleasant disposition 
and an interesting conversationalist; naturally 
modest, unassuming, gentle and kind; a public 
spirited, l)road-minded man which led him to sev- 
eriil positions of honor. He was for eight terms 
a trustee of the village and for severixl years a 
member of the Board of Education, although in 
politics he was a democrat. For four years he 
was a member of the Board of Water Commission- 
ers; also its treasui'er during that time. He was 
for some time treasurer of the village, at one time 
a trustee of the Camden Cemetery association and 
was a member of PhUanthroijic lodge, No. 164, F. & 
A. M. of which he was treasurer for fourteen y ears. 
He was an active member of the Business Men's 



d) 




MRS. CAROLINE !>. HARVEY'S RESIDENCE. 



'GRIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



101 




Borrowed Cut. 



OLD COLTON TAVERN. 



association from its organization until he retu'ed 
from business about two year.s before Ms death, 
and for several years one of its officers. He was 
elected vice president of the Fii'st National bank 
of Camden Jan. 12, 1885, and held that position 
until his death. He became a member of the M. 
E. church in 1872, was an official member of that 
ohui'ch for years and a trustee at the time of his 
death. In his early manhood, in 1861, he was 
married to Miss CaroHne P. Pecli and found in her 
gentle strength the complement of his sterner 
qualities. With three daughters and two sons she 
siu'vives him; Clara A., the wife of William I. Stod- 
dard; Mary S., the wife of Selden L. Harding; 
Mildred E., the wite of Clarence C. Magee; Ches- 
ter D. Harvey of Camden and Edwin C. Harvey 
of New York city. In the welfare of the village, 
in educational, religious and all moral movements, 
he always took a deep interest and fre- 
quently an active part. 

In jjolitics he was a democrat but his 
business interests prevented him from 
accepting pubhe office, although he was 
often urged to do so. 

Lakes of New York, boundaries, 
•dimensions, etc. (FigTU'es in parenthesis 
indicate rank in point of size). Ekie, (1) : 
New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michi- 
gan, Out. (Canada); 268m. long, 30 to .50 
m. wide, .565 feet altitude, 270 feet great- 
est depth, 120 feet mean depth; Buffalo, 
Black Rock, Dunldils;, harbors. On- 
TjURIo, (2) : New York, Ontario, (Canada) ; 
190 m. long, 55 m. extreme width, 231 
leet altitude, over 600 feet greatest depth, 
492 feet mean depth; Oswego, Saekets 
Harbor and Charlotte. Champlain, (3) : 
New Y'ork, Vermont, Quebec, (Canada) ; 
1476 sq. m., 126 m. long, 10 rods to 12 
m. wide, 93 feet altitude, 54 to 282 feet 
deep; Rouses Point, Plattsburgh, Port 
Kent, WestiDort, Port Henrv, Crown 
Pouit, Whitehall, Burlington, "(Vt.), St. 
Albans, (Vt ) Geobge, (5) : Horicon (In- 
dian), or Las Sacrament (French); War- 
ren, Essex and Washington coiinties; 36 
m. long, 1 to 3 m. wide, 243 feet altitude, 
40 feet mean depth; Lake George, Ti- 
conderoga, Bolton, Sabbath Day Point 
Baldwin, Roger's Rock, South Bay, 
Kattskill Bay. Caitiga, (4) : Cayuga, 
Seneca, Wayne and Tompkins counties; 
8 m. long, 1 to 4 m. wide; Cayuga, 
Union Springs, Aurora, King's Ferry, 



Ludlow, Ithaca, Sheldrake. Seneca, (5) : On- 
tario, Seneca, Yates and Schuyler coixnties; 
32?, m. long, 1^ to 3^ m. wide; Geneva, 
Ovid, Hillsborough, Willard and Watkins. 
OxEiDA, (6) : Oneida, Oswego, Onondaga, 
Madison counties; 20 m. long, li to 6; m. 
wide; Brewerton, North Bay, Sylvan Beach, 
South Bay, Constantia, Cleveland. Ketjka, 
(7): Y'ates and Steuben counties; 12 to 18i 
m. long, (Y shaped) } to 4 m. wide; Penn 
Yan, BranchPort, Keuka, Urbana, Hani- 
mandsport. Sakanacs, (8) ; Franklin county ; 
chain of three lakes. Upper, Middle or 
Round and Lower; 18i m. long, 4 in maxi- 
mum width; Saranac P. O., Saranac Inn. 
Black, (9); Jefferson county; 18^ m. long, 
3^ m. maximum width, -1 m. average width. 
Chautaitqua, (10): Chautauqua county; 18 
m. long, i to 3-J m. wide; Chautauqua, May\'ille, 
Jamestown. Fxtlton Chain, (11): Herkimer, Ham- 
ilton counties; 8 pond.s, 18 m. long; li m. 
maximum width ; Old Forge. Skaneateles, (12) : 
Onondaga, Cayuga and Cortland ooiinties; 16 m. 
long, J to 2 m. wide; Skaneateles, Borodino, Look 
Haven. Long, (13): Hamilton county; 16 m. long, 
i to 1 m. wide; Long Lake harbor. Little Forked 
Carry. Tuppees, (14): Hamilton county; Upper 
and Lower connected by narrow stream li m. 
long; whole chain 14 m. long, 20 rods to 2 m. 
wide; Tupper Lake Postofflce. Canandaigua, 
(15): Ontario and Yates counties; 14 m. long, 1 to 
2 m. wide; Canandaigua and Vienna. Scheoon, 
(16): Warren and Essex counties; 11; m long, 1 
mile maximvim width. Owasco, (17): Cayuga and 
Tompkins counties; 11 m. long, i to li m. wide. 
Ot.sego. (18): Otsego county; 8^ m. long, I to 1-V 




PETER REAFEL'S RESIDENCE. 



102 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




I. D. WEST, SUPERVISOR OF CAMDEN. 

m. wide; Cooijerstown, Sjoringfield Centre. 
Raqitette, (19) : Hamilton county; 8 m. long, from 
50 rods to 6 m. wide; Antlers, Raquette Lake P. O. 
Hemlock, (20): Livingston and Ontario counties; 
7i m. long, 1 m. wide; Conesus. Piseco, (21): 
Hamilton county; 6 m. by 1 m. maximum. In- 
dian, (22): Hamilton county; 5 m. long; j m. in 
maximum width. Uppeb Chateaugay, (23) : Clin- 
ton county; 5 m. long, J m. maximum width. 
OswEC4ATCHiE OK Ckanbehby, (24) : St. Lawrence 
county; 5} m. long, i to 3 m. wide. Onondaga, 
(25) : Onondaga county; 5 m. long, 1 to li m. wide; 
Liverpool, Geddes, Solvay, Salina. Blue Mt., 
(26) : Hamilton county ; 6 miles cii-cumference, 2 m. 
maximum width. Honeoxe, (27): Ontario county; 
U by 1 m. Ckoss, (28) : 
Oswego, Cayuga coun- 
ties; 4 m. long, 1 m. 
maximum width. Pleas- 
ant, (29) : Hamilton coun- 
ty ; 4 m. long, j^ to 1 m. 
wide. Placid, (30) : Clin- 
ton coun+y; 3 m. long, } 
to 2 m. wide. Fokked, 
(31): Hamilton county ; 3 
m. long, 100 feet to 1 m. 
wide. ScHUYLEK, (32) : 
Otsego county; 2 J m. 
long, 1 mUe maximum 
width. Necklace, (33) : 
Hamilton county ; a chain 
of small, clear, Aeep 
loonds forming a water- 
and - carry way from 
Forked to Upper, or 
Little Tupper lakes, (the 
prettiest and wddest 
scenery in the state) ; 
Bottle, Bound, Pocket 
ponds each ha'^-ing a cii'- 
cumference of from 1 to 
li miles. The necklace 
is 4A miles long. ( ' 'Grip" 
has been over it). cimpin, rhoii 



I. D. West, the supervisor from Camden, was 
first elected to that position in 1898. Since then 
he has served continuously with the excei^tion of 
one year, 1901. During one of his terms the 
board politically was tied up. The democrats, 
with the aid of the members from Utica, during 
his other terms, organized and controlled the 
board. During 1897 and '99, inclusive, for the 
period of three years, Mr. West was one of the 
water commissioners of the vdlage of Camden. 
As president of the Board of Trade it has devolved 
upon him to present to that organization such en- 
tei-prises as he may get into touch with, that are 
desirous of locating in the vdiage, and to direct the 
carrying out of such plans as that body may de- 
termine to be for the benefit of the village. Mr. 
West is the secretary of the Camden Water Wheel 
works, having been identified with that enterprise 
since 1894. In May, 1886, he came to Camden to 
reside, at that time being connected vnth Wheeler 
& Meliok company, manufacturei-s of farming im- 
lilements, for whom he had been ti'aveling sales- 
man during the previous year and a half. The 
following foiu'teen years he spent in traveling as 
general salesman for the Bowker Fertilizer Co. of 
Boston, but severed his relation with that house in 
November, 1900, in order to devote his entu-e time 
to his present business connections. Mr. West 
was born in WiUiamstown, November 3, 1862, and 
was married to Miss .Florence, the daughter of 
William G. Percival.one of his business associates, 
March 31, 1893. His father and mother, Ansel F. 
and Clarissa West are residents of Camden. Mr. 
West is an active republican, closely affiliated with 
the county leaders in the party. He is a member 
of the Philantlu-opic Lodge No. 164, and Darius 
Chai)ter No. 144. F. & A. M., of Camden, and the 
Rome Commandery, No. 45, K. T. , of Rome. 




■•'^■'^"- ■■' 



I. 1). WKST'S RESIDENCE. 



'GKIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



103 



Camden Water Wheel Works.— The plant 
of tkis comijany Avho manufacture the latest and 
most approved Turbine water wheels and appur- 
tenances, stich as iron flumes, gearing, shafting, 
etc., is located at the foot of Main street. The 
Infant in part was erected for the Eagle foundry 
and machine shoi), but since passing into the 
hands of the present owners has been enlarged. 
As the business has expanded from year to year, 
new buildings have been requii-ed, and the i^lant 
is now fully equipped for btrilding machinery for 
water power plants complete. All the machinery 
used in machine shop, foundry, and for lighting 
the works, is driven by water power. The Eagle 
foundrv and machine shop was established by 
James "Tripp and F. D. Fitield in 18.59 for the 
pirrpose of manufacturing machinery for saw and 
grist mills and tanneries, and they also made a few 
water wheels. 



Camden Hive, No. 311, L. of M.— In August, 
1898, Deputy Lady Murray, met with the Ladies 
of Camden in Mechanic's hall and received names 
for a charter of the Ladies of the Maccabees. The 
first regular review of Camden Hive, No. 
311, was held in Mechanic's haU Aug. 20, 1898, 
the following officers presiding: Past Com., Mrs. 
Carrie Donovan; Com., Mrs. Mary A. WilUams; 
Lieut. Com., Mrs. Dora Bush; E. K. and F. K., 
Mrs. Lewis; Chap., Mrs. Wade; M. at A., Mrs. 
Simpkins; Sentinel, Mrs. Seely; Picket, Mrs. 
Carrie Perin. There were only fifteen charter 
members and the roU call now shows a favorable 
iacrease of membership, though many have been 
granted transfer cards while others stUl remaining 
members of the Hive have made their homes in 
distant towns. The officers for the past year were : 
Past Com., Mrs. Marietta Simpkins; Com.. Mrs. 
Mary Williams; Lieut. Com., Mrs. Carrie Perin; 
E, K. and F. K., Mrs. Dora Boomer; Chap., Mrs. 




Copy from Print. 

In 1882, Wood Brothers (Atrgustus and Henry) 
and W. G. Percival stai-ted the manufacture of 
tm-bine water wheels in a plant located at the foot 
of Thh-d street. The buildings were burned the 
following year. In the meantinie,Mr. Fifleld died 
and his interest in the Eagle foundry and machine 
shop as well as that of Mr. Tripp passed into the 
possession of Mi'. Fifield's son, Franklin. From 
him the property was purchased by Mr. Percival 
and his partners who continued the manufacture 
of water wheels at this place. 

In 1891 the Camden Water Wheel Works was 
organized by W. G. Percival, D. T. Wood and I. 
D. West. New machinery has since been installed 
and the manufacture of water wheels has been 
carried on more extensively than ever. The Cam- 
den water wheel is now used by many of the most 
progressive manufactui'ers in this country, and 
within the last two years this company has ex- 
ported a number of the wheels. 



THE CAMDEN WATER WHEEL WORKS. 

Dora Smith; M. at A., Mrs. Mina Cutler; Serg., 
Mrs. Augusta Turner; Sent., Mrs. Mamie Eima; 
Picket, Mrs. Schuster; Organist, Mrs. Grace 
Spencer. 

Water, Size of Large Bodies.- Oceans- 
Pacific, 8(),()(M),I)0() sq. miles; Atlantic, 10,000,000; 
Indian, 20,000.000; Southern, 10,000,000; Arctic, 
5,000,000. Sea,s— Mediterranean, 2,000 miles long; 
Caribbean, 1,800; China, 1,700; Bed, 1,400; Japan, 
1,000; Black, 932; Caspian, 610; Baltic, 600; Ok- 
hatsk, 600; White, 150: Ai-al, 250. Lakes— Su- 
perior, 380 by 120 miles iu area; Michigan, 330 by 
60 miles ; Ontario, 180 by 40; Erie. 270 by 50; 
Huron, 2.50 bv 90; Champlam, 123 by 12; Cayuga, 
36 by 4; George, 36 by 3; Baikal, 360 by 35; 
Great Slave, 300 by 45; Winnipeg, 240 by 40: 
Athabasca, 200 by 20'; Maracabo, 150 by 60; Great 
Bear, 1.50 bv 40; Ladoga, 125 by. 75; Constance, 
45 bv 10; Geneva, 50 by 10; Lake of the Woods, 
70 bv 25. 



104 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF OAMDEN. 



J. M. Young & Son, the copartnership which 
ill 1890 was formed between George W. Young 
and his father, the same year erected the two-story 
factory building, 40x90 feet, where they are man- 
ufacturing tables and chaii's to an extent Avhich 
gives them a trade direct with retaUers over a sec- 
tion of country covering a considerable portion of 
New York, Pennsylvania and the New England 
states. There are twenty -four styles of chairs and 
sixteen styles of tables included in their output, 
which are sold through traveling salesmen. They 
comprise the better grades designed to meet the 
wants of those who purchase a handsome and sub- 
stantial article. 

The factory, comparatively new and fully 
equipped with necessary machinery driven by 



as the Satohell mill which stood a mile and a half 
north of the village on Mad river. 

Mr. Young purchased the property of David 
Maxted and manufactui'ed furniture there until 
about 1877 or "78, when the building and all of its 
contents were destroyed by tire. 

Mr. Young then went into company with J. M. 
Dexter under the name of Young & Dexter and 
the business was resumed in the old building 
belonging to Peniield & Stone which is still stand- 
ing near the site of the present factory. In 1888 or 
'89 Mr. Dexter, on account of ill health, retired 
and the following two years, untU his son became 
his partner, Mr. Young conducted the factory 
alone. 

The present capacity of the works which in- 




Sklnner, Photos. J. M. 

J. M. Young''s Residence. 
The Factory Builditig". 

steam power, was jilanned by Mr. J. M. Young. 
It is a substantial, well constructed building bet- 
ter arranged for the comfort of the workmen 
especially in the matter of light and air space, than 
is common m factories where a great amount of 
machinery is requned. 

Being located close to the R. W. & O. , and the 
Lehigh Valley trades, the two competing roads 
which enter Camden, it has side track facilities 
which enables the firm to ship its goods, by 
loading the cars with only once handling them 
and without the expense and inconvenience of 
teaming. 

The business was started by Mr. J. M. Young 
in a small way in March, 1872, in what was known 



YOUNG & SON'S FUllNITUKE FACT(JEY. 



J. M. Young 



The Storehovise. 
Georg-e W. Young. 



eludes the factory and the storehouse, is for the 
employment of twenty-five men without any in- 
convenience. During last year the change hr 
which the storehouse was moved alongside of the 
tracks for convenience of loading cars, was made. 
Mr. John M. Young was born in Darval, Ayr- 
shire, Scotland, April 11, 1815. Roliert Mcintosh, 
his uncle, a farmer living at HiUslioro, town of 
Camden, was the means of determining Mr. Young- 
to come here. The steamship and railroad com- 
panies managed the matter so that, saiUng on May 
25, 1865, Mr. Young finally reached Camden by 
landing at Quebec and coming from there l)y the 
way of New York city. His brother, David, came 
soon after. They have a sister, Mrs. James Gaw> 



'GBIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



105 




VIEW OF HALE SECTIONAL BOOK CASE. 



living at Boston, and another, Mrs. Gilbert Davis, 
living at Cooperstowu. 

From Augnst, 1865, until he stai'ted the works 
in the Satchell mill, Mr. Young wan employed by 
F. H. Conant & Son. 

On Feb. 4, 1868, he married Nancy M. Baldwin, 
of Camden, and to them were born four sons, 
George W., the bu.siness partner of his father, 
Vincent J. , the head bookkeeper of the First Na- 
tional bank, Clarence E., assistant boolikeeper in 
the sanae bank, and Aaron B., who died when 
two and a haK years old. In 1892 Mr. Young 
erected the commodioiis residence on Mexico 
street now his home. 

Mr. I'oung has always interested himself in 
public matters, serving as a trustee of the village 
at different times and is now in the nineteenth 
year as member of the school board, of which he 
is at present the president, a position he has held 
during the i)a.st three years. He is also a deacon 
of the Congregational chui-ch of which he is an 
earnest supporter, and has several times served as 
superintendent of the Sunday school. 

George W. Y'oung was born in Camden, Oct. 6, 
1869. "When he had completed his education, 
which was obtained in 
the Camden High school 
and at the Cazenovia sem- 
inary, he went into the 
factory to learn the busi- 
ness. In a public capacity 
he has served as treasurer 
of the village. He was 
on the water board two 
years and is at present 
the secretary and treas- 
urer of the Congrega- 
tional church. On Mav 
17, 1893, he wedded 
Elizabeth A. Gamble, 
of Camden. 

Authors, ages at which 
they died: — Abl)ott,John 
C, 72; Agassiz, 66; An- 
derson, Hans, 70; Aristo, 
59; Bacon, Francis, 65; 
Barlow, Joel,57; Barnes, si-iuucr Phnti> 
Albert, 72; Baxter, Rich- " ' ' CAMDEN BllANCll OF A. 



ard, 76; Beranger, 77; 
Boccaccio, 62; Bremer, 
Frederika, 64; Bronte, 
Charlotte, 39; Brown- 
ing, Mrs. 52; Buckle, 
40; Bulwer, 68; Bun- 
yon, 60; Burns, 37; 
Byron, Lord, 36; Car- 
lyle, Thomas, 86; Camp- 
beU, 67; Chaucer, 72; 
Coleridge, 62; Cooper, 
62 ; Cowper, 69 ; DeQirin- 
cey, 74; Dickens, 68; 
Disraeli, Benj., 76; 
Dryden,69; Edgeworth, 
Mrs., 82; Eliot, Mrs., 

(Mrs. Lewes) 61; Gib- 
bon, 57; Goethe, 83; 
Go]dsmith,46;' Greeley, 

Horace, 61; Halleck,77; 
Hawthorne, 60; Hil- 
dreth, Richard, 53; 

Johnson, Samuel, 75; 



Irving, Washington, 76; 

Keats, 25; Kingsley, Charles, 56; Lamb, Charles, 
59; Macauley, 59; Martineau, Harriet, 74; Moore, 
Thomas, 73; Mill, J. S., 67; Milton, 60; Mon- 
taigne, 59; Poe, 40; Prescott, 63; Scott, 61; 
Shakespeare, 52; Thackery, 52; Taylor, Bayard, 53. 

Tlie A. J. Wells Manufacturing Co., of Syra- 
cuse, N. Y., started the Camden branch of their 
A\orks April 1, 1901, leasing for that purpose the 
building which stands at the Main street crossing 
of the river. During the foUowmg winter the 
capacity of the building was enlarged by the erec- 
tion of an addition of the same size, in the east 
end, and by the construction of a steam power 
house in the' rear, these improvements being made 
necessary by the increase of the business which had 
been foiind'to overtax the original capacity of the 
piaut. The factory is equipped after modern ideas 
with steam x)Ower and heat and electric lights. 
The product of the plant consi-ts of the Hale sec- 
tional book case, made of plain and quartered 
oak, and mahogany and imitation of mahogany. 
This style of book case which is constructed on a 
highly ornamental as well as useful plan, consists 




J. WELLS' MANUFACTURING CO. 



106 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




SkimicT, Phol.o. NICHOLAS SALLADIX. 

of several sections or suits, wliich are put together, 
one on toja of the other, as fast as an increase of 
one's Kbrary makes necessary more room for the 
books. They are made in fifteen sizes to accom- 
modate any corner or room plan that may be de- 
sired for library purposes, and in four styles. 
When the Camden branch was opened its capacity 
was for fifty sections a day. Now 125 sect ons can 
be turned out complete in the same time. The 
plant, now running at its full capacity gives em- 
ployment to fifty workmen. Its products are 
sold through agencies. 

Structures, Highest in the World. — Eiffel, 
Paris, 981 feet; Washington, monument, 555; 
Pyramid of Cheops, Egyi^t, 186; Antwerp Cathe- 
dral, Belgium, 176; Strasbiu-g Cathedral, Germany, 
174; Pyramid of Cephi'enes, Egypt, 156; St. 
Peter's church, Rome, 118; St. 5lartin's church, 
Landshut, Germany, 111; St. Paul's church, Lon- 
don, 365; SaHsV)ury Cathedi-al, England. 400; Ca- 
thedral, Florence, Italy, 387; Cathedra], Cremona, 
Lombardy. 396; Cathedral, Fribom-g, Germanv, 
386; Cathedral, Seville, Spain, 360; Cathedral 
Milan, Lombardy, 355; 
Cathedral, Utrecht, Hol- 
land, 356; Pyramid of 
Oakkai'ah, Egypt, 356 ; 
Cathedral of Notre Dame, 
Mimich, Bavaria, 318; 
St. Mai-ks church, Ven- 
ice, 328; AsseneJli Tower, 
Bologna, Italy, 272; Trin- 
ity chru'ch. New York, 
281; Column at DeUii, 
Hindoostan, 262; C!hm-ch 
of Notre Dame, Paris, 
224; Bunker Hill Monu- 
ment, Boston, 221; Lean- 
ing Tower of Pisa, Italy, 
179; Wasliington Monu- 
ment, Baltimore, 175; 
Monument, Place Ven- 
dome, Paris, 153; Tra- 



jan's PiUar, Rome, 151 ; Obelisk of Luxor, Paris, 
110; Egyptian Obehsk, New York, 69. Many of- 
fice buUdingsin New Y'ork are higher than several 
of the above structures, which, however, are men- 
tioned as among the most notable structures 
^^sited by sightseers. 

Nicholas Salladin, is the oldest continuous 
business man and the oldest mason in Camden. 
He is a dealer in foreign and American marble, 
granite and free stone, also monuments and head 
stones, at 170 Main street. Mr. Salladm was born 
in Montbroun, France, in 1820, and although now 
in his eighty-second year, is active in personally 
conducting his business, and does manuel labor 
day after day mth as much energy as many 
younger men. He comes from a family of sculp- 
tors and all his work is done with neatness and in 
good taste. His first coming to Camden was at 
the age of seventeen years. His first marble es- 
tablishment was a wagon containing foiu' tomb 
stones which are still standing. From this small 
beginning has grown his extensive business which 
is conducted in his shop on the east side of Main 
street next to his home. His motto has always been 
"Honesty is the best j^olicy." Mr. Salladin's 
wife passed away about twenty years ago, since 
which time his daughter, Mrs. Mattie Adams, has 
been his housekeeper. He has three other chil- 
dren living, Mrs. James D. Rowe, John H. and 
William N. Salladin. 

Population Facts, New York State (Federal 
Census, 1900)— 21 cities, over 20,000, total popu- 
lation 1,662,572, average 222,027.5; 21 cities, 
under 20,000, total population 256,678, average 
12,222.35; 1 incorporated villages over 10,000, to- 
tal population 17,975, average 11,993.5; 20 incor- 
porated villages 5,000 to 10,000, total population 
133,126, average t;,656.3; 38 incoriiorated villages 
3,000 to 5,000, total population 150,101, average 
3,958; 52 incorporated ^•illages 2,000 to 3,000, to- 
tal ijoi^ulation 125,280, average 2,109.3; 109 in- 
coriiorated vUlages 1,000 to 2,000, total popula- 
tion 151,082, average 1,113.65; 119 incorpoi'ated 
villages 500 to 1,000, total population 85,735, 
average 720,55; 76 incorporated -sallages, under 
500, total population, 27,311, average, 359.57. To- 
tal population 12 c ties, 1,919,250; total 418 incor- 
porated villages, 723,943; total rural or agricul- 
tural, 1,621,819; total, state, 7,268,012. State 
constitution classifies the cities, viz: 1st class. 




Skinner, Photo. 

NICHOLAS SALLADIN'S RESinENCE AND MARBLE WORKS. 



■GEIP'S" HISTOEICAIi SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



107 




Huested. Photos. 

G. J. WILLIAMS. 



G. H. WILLIAMS. 



250,000 and over (New York aud Buffalo). 2nd 
class, 50,000 and over (Albany, Troy, Syracuse 
and Rochester). 3d class, under 50,000, altogether 
36 cities (Utica, by the federal census eligible to 2d 
class, cannot be so ranked until the next state 
census) . 

George J. Williams was for several years a 
large liuilder in Ciaiiulen, his handiwork being 
shown in such structures as the First National 
bank, C. A. & A. C. Phelps' dry goods store, the 
M. E. parsonage, some of the churches, many of 
the business blocks on the west side of Main 
street, and several residences scattered about the 
village. 

It was in the summer of 1886 that Mr. Williams 
came to Camden to permanently engage in busi- 
ness. The earlier years of his life had been spent 
in leai'ning the trade of a 
carjjenter and acquiring 
the necessary knowledge 
of an architect as well as 
a builder, so that many 
of the best edifices he 
erected were after plans 
either inspired or drawn 
by himself. Even after 
Mr. Williams had gone 
into trade with the inten- 
tion of retii-ing from active 
building ojoerations, he 
was frequently called 
upon to furnish plans and 
supervise the erection of 
structures. In 1890 he 
was made niemlier of the 
board of education and 
chaii'man of the building 
committee, in which posi- 
tions he has since served, 
making the i:)lans and 
personally supervising 
the work of constructing 
the annexes, remodehng Skinner, Photo. 



the original building and putting in the 
sanitary conveniences which now make the 
Camden High school building modern in its 
apiiointments and uij-to-date. Mr. Williams 
has also served as a trustee of the vUlage 
and is an active member of the Odd Fellows. 
He was born at Verona Mdls, Oneida county, 
N. Y., May 21, 1843, and resided there until 
1864. The following year his work brought 
him to Camden temporarily, where, in the 
succeeding year he became a resident to 
engage in the building and architectural 
business. In 1868 he bought a one-fourth 
interest in the sash, blind, door and planing 
mill of Cox & Stone and thereafter they 
conducted the liuildiDg business in connec- 
tion with it. The firm then became Stone, 
Williams & Co., and consisted of Andrew 
J. Stone, Jacob Eush, James Goshart and 
Mr. Wniiams. This partnership was suc- 
ceeded four years later by Williams & Eush, 
the other memliers of the firm retu-ing. In 
1883 ]Mr. Williams sold out his interest to 
Jacob Eush who continued the business for 
several years. In 1881 Mr. Williams carried 
on biuli'ling and dealt in lumber. In 1885 
he purchased the boot and shoe business of 
his brother's estate which had lieen running 
for twenty-three years, commencing with 
all bench work, 'and at one time employing from 
twelve to fourteen shoemakers. The concentra- 
tion of shoe making in large factories has since 
made hand work unprofitable and now the only 
work done where at one time it was all hand work 
is that of repairing. The present store was 
erected in 1865 by Mr. Silas Frazee who engaged 
in business for some years with his son-in-law, Mr. 
W. W. Williams, the brother of the present pro- 
prietor, now dead. Mr. WUliams married Celestia 
Eosa in 1871, and thev have two sons, George H. 
and Clayton. The former, Mr. G. H. WiUiams, 
has been associated with his father in trade for the 
past six years, he having taken up the business 
with the' intention of having it continued under 
the name of Williams, as it has been for the past 
forty years. 




G. J. WILLIAMS' SHOE STOKE. 



108 



'GBIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Hiiested, Photo. 

Boehm Bros. 

factui'mg wagous 



A. BOEHJr. 

been engaged 



have lieen engaged m manu- 
aud sleighs in Camden 
since August, 1871. Their wood and ii'on 
working shops are located on Church 
street next east of the t(.iwu hall, and then' 
repository, a high, broad structure capable of ac- 
commodating a lai-ge number of manufactured 
veliicles set up ready for use, is on South Park 
street. Tliis was originally erected and used for a 
roller skating rink and its big heayy floor and wide 
gallery are as spacious and convenient for making 
the display that Boehm Bros, reqiiire, as though 
they were jilanned especially for that purpose. 
The building encloses an area of .50x100 feet. Tnis 
firm manufactures all kinds of vehicles, but makes 
a special line of Travoes sleighs, which were j)ut 
on the market over twenty-five years ago, and 
Travoes cutters which came only about six years 
ago and which are finished and 
upholstered in an attractive man- 
ner. They also manufacture lum- 
ber and niai-ket wagons and fine 
carriages. The shops comprise 
two buildings. The main struc- 
ture takes in the blacksmith shop 
on the first floor, the wood shop 
on the second and the finishing 
room on the thiixl. The other 
budding is used as a store house 
for himber and other raw material. 
This structure is an old landmark. 
Yeiu-s ago it stood on the the public 
square, a place of worship for the 
Methodists. Afterwards it was 
moved over on church street where 
for some years it was occupied by 
the Catholic church society. In 
1889 it came into the jiossession of 
Boehm Bros, who then moved it 
on to its present site in the rear of 
their factory. 

Christian Andrew Boehm was 
born at Wittemberg, Germany, 
Dec. 24, 1831, and when a boy he Borrowed Photo. 



entered uponj the trade of wagon making. In 
May, 1852, he arrived in this country and located 
at Oswego. After the big fire in that city in IS.j-t, 
he went to Utica to work for W. D. Haudin, where 
he resided seven or eight years, working at his 
trade. Then he found empiloyment at Booneville 
and finally moved to Camden where he first asso- 
ciated himself in wagon making with James Stark, 
on April 1, 1861, they purchasing the business of 
John Owens and continuing together for more than 
seven years. Upon tlie dissolution of the partner- 
ship between Messrs. Boehm and Stark, which oc- 
curred Aug. 3], 1871, Paul Eoehm, his brother, 
became his j^artner, forming the present firm. 
Mr. C. A. Boehm was married at Eome to Miss 
Veronaka WooUey, March 19, 1858. Atone time 
Mr. Boelim was a member of the viUage board of 
tru.steef. 

Speakers, House of Representatives. - 

Frederick A. Mithlenburgh, Pa., 1st, 3d Cong.; 
Jonathan Trumbull, Ct., 2d Cong. ; Jonathan Day- 
ton, N. J., 4th-5th Cong.; Theodore Sedgwick, 
Mass., 6th Cong. ; Nathan Macon, N. C, 7th, 8th^ 
9th Cong. ; Joseph B. Varnum, Mass., lOth-llth 
Cong.; Henry Clay, Ky., 12th-16th, 18th Cong.; 
Philip P. Barbour, Va , 17th Cong. ; John W. 
Taylor, N. Y., 19th Cong.; Andrew Stephenson, 
Va", 20th-21st Cong.; James K. Polk, Tenn., 
21th-2.5th Cong. ; Rol)ert M. T. Hunter, Va., 26th 
Cong. ; John White Ky. , 27th Cong. ; John W. 
Jones, Va. , 28th Cong.; John AV. Davis, Ind., 
29th Cong.; Robert C. Winthrop, 
Cong. ; Howell Cobb, Ga., 31st Cong. 
Ky., 32d-33d Cong.; Nathaniel P. 
Mass., Sith Cong.; Jas. L. Orr, S. C. 
William Pennington, N. J., 
A. Grow, Pa., 37th Cong 



Jlass., 30th 
. ; Linn Boyd, 
Banks, Jr. , 
3.5th Cong. ; 
36th Cong. ; Galusha 
Schuyler Colfax, Ind., 
38th-l:0th Cong.; James'G. Blaine, Me., 41.st-43d 
Cong. ; Michael C. Kerr, Ind., 14th Cong. ; Samuel 
J. Randall, Pa., 45th^46th Cong.; J. Warren 
Kiefer, O., 47th Cong.; John G. Carlisle, Ky., 
48th-50th Cong.; Thomas B. Reed, Me., 51st, 
54th, .5.5th Cong. ; Charles P. Crisp, Ga.., 52d, 53d 
Cong. David B. Henderson, la., 56th-57th Cong. 




liliEHM BUIJb. WAbUN &HUP. 



'GEIP'S" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



109- 




Huested, Photos. 

MKS. D. S. WILLIAMS. 



D. S. WILLIAMS. 



D. S. Williams, "wlio condncts a grocery, 
meat, market and bakery at Nos. 3 and 5 South 
Park street, first began business in Camden in 
1888, being located for a short time in the Dubois 
block, Main street. An opportunity to buy the 
l^roperty where he is now located of Penfield & 
Stone was soon offered, and the deal was quickly 
consummated. The building, in the beginning 
erected and occuijied for a residence, offered small 
quarters so that when the doors were thrown open 
for trade Mr. Williams had lor a store a small room 
iu one corner with a stock of hardly more than 
fifty dollars in value. As trade increased, parti- 
tions were removed and enlarged arcommodations 
obtained, until now the -svhole of the main piart of 
the buUding accommodates three complete lines 
of business, including 
the grocery, the meat 
market and the bakery 
with a modern portable 
oven, together with a re- 
frigerator, a store room 
and the private office. 
There is also a large 
cellar for the storage of 
l^roduce. Mr. Williams, 
assisted by his son, Leon 
D., who on March 5, 
1901, was graduated at 
the Albany Business Col- 
lege, is extending the 
trade to the fullest capac- 
ity of the place. That 
the housekeeper may be 
supplied with everything 
for the table that is de- 
sired is the main motive 
of combiniag three stores 
in one. Both a competent 
meat cutter and a baker 
are employed and the 
trade, as well as private ^^^^^^^..^ pi,oto. 
families, is served with D. s. WILLIAMS' 



meats and bake stuffs. Mr. Williams also 
caters to weddings and jsiu-ties. From a 
farm which he owns, comi^risiug 92 acres, 
which Mr. Williams recently purchased of 
Casi^er Brooks, known as the Lambie farm 
and situated within the corporation limits, 
he supplies cream from a herd of Jersey 
cows. Upon this place he jsroposes to erect 
a large creamery and an ice house. Here 
he will raise poultry and other home fed 
meats, which will be slaughtered fresh for 
the trade in an abbatoir which he will erect 
for that purpose. As the growth of busi- 
ness may warrant, Mr. Williams can in- 
crease his store accommodations, as he has 
a frontage of sixty -three feet in a location 
which will Justify the construction of a 
large building. D. S. Williams was born 
at Sandy Creek, Oswego county, Sept. 1, 
1860. Sylvanus Williams, his father, who 
moved his family to Osceola when the sub- 
ject of this sketch was quite young, con- 
ducted a hotel there for a long time, being 
justice of the peace for thuty years and 
also having held the offices of town clerk 
and supervisor. His death occurred in 
Camden two years ago, following that of his 
vdie, who died in this village in 1896. D. 
S. WiUiams and Ella S. Vandawalker, of Osceola, 
were married Sei^tember 6, 1880. Their children 
are Leon D. , who is in the store "with his father, 
Martha, who is at the Cazenovia seminary, and 
Mary, Ida, Kay and Edna, who are pupils of the 
Camden public school. Mr. Williams is a member 
of the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows, the O. U. 
A. M. and the Grangers. 

State Board of Equalization. — It consists 
of the Lieut. - Governor, Secretary of State, 
Comptroller, State Treasurer, Attorney-General, 
Speaker of the Assembly, State Engineer and State 
Tax Commissioners. They are charged with the 
duty of equalizing the .state tax among ihe several 
counties of the state and fixing the amount of 
assessment on real and personal property on which 
the state tax is levied. 




MEAT MARKET, BAKEKY AND GIIOCEKY, 



110 



'GRIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Borrowed Pbotos. 
BEKNICE E. BATCHELOR 



JOSEPH BATCHELOR 

Job Batchelor was a very active business 
man of Ciinulen for about 40 years, a man who had 
deeply at heart the improvement and welfare of 
the commimity. He was a great admher of nature 
and loved to beautify with fiowers and shrubbery 
wherever it was possilile to be done. rorest-Hill 
cemetery was a place he especially desii-ed to see 
improved in a manner that would malie its siu-- 
roundiugs attractive and during the time he was 
trustee of that associa- 
tion, which was about 
ten years, he was con- 
stantly agitating the ex- 
penditure of money to 
beautify the jjlace. The 
most appropriate monu- 
ment to his love of the 
beautiful is the row of ma- 
ples standing along Main 
street from the cemetery 
■entrance to the knitting 
mill property which he 
caused to be .set oiri 
while he was the presi- 
dent of the association, 
the i:)osition he oceujiicd 
for several years and also 
at the time of his death. 
It was about 1851 when 
he came to Camden from 
Utica, having during the 
previous year married 
Miss Bernice Smith. His 
•trade was that of a ma- 
chinist and diu'ing the 
first nineteen years of his 
residence here he fol- 
lowed that occupation 
working first for George 
W. Wood and afterwards 
for Tripp & Fifield. For 
about a year he was in 



the shoe business in company with Frank 
Snow and dui-ing the following three years 
was engaged in insurance with the firm 
of Howell & More. Then he formed a co- 
partnership with F. W. Olmstead in the 
clothing trade and at the end of three years 
sold out to his partner. He then started the 
clothing store which he conducted up to the 
time of his death. About three years prior 
to his death his son George became associat- 
ed with him under the firm name of Batch- 
elor & Son. Mr. Batchelor was born at 
Bradford-on-the-Avon, England, Aug. 15, 
1829. Coming to this country when twelve 
years of age he found a home with his 
brother in Utica where he lived until he 
came to Camden, with the exception of the 
first year after his marriage when he resid- 
ed m Koine. His interest in village affau-s 
was displayed whenever occasion called for 
individual' effort and being a rea,dy talker 
as weU as a good public speaker his oratori- 
cal powers were freqirently called into ser- 
vice in beh ilf of pending pubhc qirestions, 
being often exercised in the councils of the 
repul)lican party of which he was an active 
member. To his skill as an organizer was 
due the existence of the first fire engine 
company, known as Engine Co. No. 1, 
which was organized to take the place of 
the crude methods for protection against fire 
which had proven inadequate. Then came the 
question of a public water system of which he also 
was an enthusiastic supporter and which of course 
took the place of the engine company. He Tvas 
also the organizer of the Merchants' Protective 
association and was at one time United States 
revenue collector. On several occasions he was 




Borrower! Photo. 



MRS. BERNICE H. BATCHELOR'S RESIDENCE. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



Ill 



elected a village trustee. He had a taste for the 
best literary productions and greatly loved to read 
Shakespeare and Burns. After some months of 
jjoor health, during which he was confined to the 
house for aliout six weeks, he died, Oct. 19, 1891, 
survived by his wife and one son. His widow is 
still living comfortably in the family home on Main 
street. The funeral, held at the Congregational 
church, was very largely attended, the Masonic 
order of w-hich he was a member and the busi- 
ness men generally turning out in a body. 

George J. Batchelor, the only son of Job and 

Bernice Smith Batchelor, was engaged in the 
clothing business in this village for about ten 
years. Three years prior to the death of his father 
he was taken in as a partner, and after the loss of his 
father, he continued to carry on the business until 
his own death which occurred October 21, 1899. 
He was born in Camden, June 23, 1864, and was 
one of the brightest pupils of the public schools of 
this village. He possessed a natural keenness 
which gi'eatly aided him to successfully carry on 
the liusiness which had been left him by his father 
after he had had l)ut comparatively a brief experi- 
ence in trade. But he had been an apt scholar at 
school and a sociable companion and had made 
many friends, and these qualities reinforced by a 
natiu'ally energetic sphit served him well in push- 
ing along the road which, if he had lived, would 
have led to success. In a large measui-e he pos- 
sessed the kind, liberal nature of his father, ever 
ready to freely contriljute his time and means 
when asked to do so. 

By his marriage to Josephine Craig there were 
two children, Dannie and Beulah, who w'ith theu' 
mother still survive him. He was a charter mem- 
ber and at the time of his death Past ChanceUor 
of the Camden Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and a 
member of the Rescue H. & L. Co. of the Camden 
Fire Department. 

E. J. Castle is doing business in the store 
where for some years E. A. Harvey and G. R. 
Sheppai'd carried on trade — a business which was 
estabhshed in 1878, and which today is one of the 
best laiown stands for trade in town. While Mr. 
Castle deals largely in country produce, his .s]3eciid 
line of trade comprises fancy gToceries, teas and 
coffees, aU the new cereals that are in the market, 
fancy biscuits, crackers and canned and bottled 
goods. Mr. Castle, after completing his studies 
in the Camden High school, 1889-'9(), accepted a 
clerkship with G. R. Sheppard which he held until 
1898, when he succeeded to the business as sole 
proprietor. He was born in Florence, July 20, 
1874, and before coming to Camden he lived at 
WiUiamstown nine years, where he attended the 
Williamstown Union school. On October 16, 
1895, he was married to Jennie U. Chapman, of 
this viUage. Mr. Castle is a member of the O. U. 
A. M. and an active member of the Methodist 
church. Taking a special interest in the Sunday 
school he became its superintendent in which 
capacity his services are fully devoted to the wel- 
fare of his charge. 

Solon Cook, the eldest child of Martin and 
Clarissa Cook, who came with several others from 
Connecticut in 1800 and settled iu Camden, was a 
resident of this village up to the time of his death, 
Avhich occurred July 2, 1876. Born in Harwinton, 



Ct., September 30, 1795, he was, therefore, in 
his fifth year when his ijarents came to Camden. 
Among those who accompanied them hither were 
his gTandfather, Ohver Cook, a revolutionary sol- 
dier, and the latter's wife. They settled two miles 
south of Camden, on lands which Solon Cook's 
father, Martin Cook, and the latter's brother-in- 
law, Joseph ScoviUe, had begun to clear the pre- 
vious year. Oliver Cook died on the place origi- 
nally settled, December 30, 1838, and his wile. 
Submit, July 20, 1846. Then- son, Martm, Solon's 
father, died March 20, 1855, and his -n-ife, Aug-ust 
28, 1848. Solon Cook's early years were hke those 
of all pioneers engaged in clearing a new country, 
devoted to hard work and subjected to many j^riva- 
tions. At the time of the outbreak of the war of 
1812 he enlisted and was enrolled as a private in 
Captain John Smith's company which at once 
marched to Sacketts Harbor. On April 3, 1815, 
he married Elvira Bvington. Her death occurred 
May 4, 1822, and on October 25, 1824, Solon Cook 



i:^w -a^ ■. '^^ 




Borrowud Pbotn. GEDKGE BATCHELOR. 

married Elizabeth Peck. There were three chil- 
dren by the first wife and seven by the other. 
Angeline E. (Mrs. Philander Smith) was one of 
the three. Mrs. Elizabeth (Quincey) Barber was 
a daughter of the second wife. Three of his sons 
are living, M. P. B. Cook, of Lockport, N. Y., M. 
R. Cook, of Denver, Colo., and George G. Cook, 
who occupies the home farm. 

Mr. Cook was persistent in his aims and indus- 
trious. He was a vigorous supporter of the 
Methodist church with which he was identified for 
many years, and of which he was class leader, 
trustee and steward. In poHtics he was a whig 
and afterwards a repubhcan, and at one time 
served as town assessor. He was a large land 
owner. Included in his tract was a settlement 
^^•hich liecame known as Salisbury. Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Peck Cook, Ms second wife, the daughter of 
Henry Peck, who came to Camden early in the last 
century, was a prominent school mistress and an 
accomplished Bible student. She died September 
12. 1885. 



112 



•GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




SOLON COOK. (See sk. page 111.) ISETSEY P. OOO 
QUINCEY BARBER. ELIZABETH BARBER 

Quincey Barber was identified with the busi- 
ness interests ol Camden for forty-six years. The 
estabhshmeut of one of the largest gim manufac- 
tories in this ooiuitry, that for the production of 
the Lefever gun, ^\as largely due to him who with 
his brother and the mventor of the gun, equipped 
the factory at Syracuse in 1875. Mr. Barber was 



a man of sterling abilities, honest and up- 
right in all business transactions, faithful as 
an official and a man of good judgment in 
all things pertaining to the highest type 
of citizenship. He was an active member 
of the Methodist church from boyhood, de- 
youtly regnilar in attendance and a powerful 
exhorter. For fifty years he was class lead- 
er in the Sunday school of the Camden 
Methodist Episcopal church of which he 
was also superintendent fourteen years. In 
religious matters and church duties his ex- 
ample and services were of the highest order 
and every burden as a Christian man and re- 
sponsible member of society, was fitly taken 
up and cheerfully borne. He was born in 
Winsor, Mass, July 12, 182y, and in early 
life leai'ned the trade of wagon making. 
Comhig to Camden in 18^6, he engaged for 
several years in that business with S. G. Sta- 
ples, his brother-in-law, and afterwards in 
the insurance business. Then he was a 
partner in a grocery with James Gamble, 
afterwards m the dry goods business with 
Cook Bros., and for eight years a member of 
the boot and shoe firm of Wilhams, Locke 
tt Barber. Later on he engaged in pro- 
ducing oil in Pennsylvania. Returning to 
Camden in 1883, he became one of the firm 
of Gardner, Wakefield &Co., manufacturers 
of sash, doors and bUnds and was more 
or less active in building operations. 
DiU'ing the later years of his life he was 
employed in the Corbin Lock Co.'s factory. 
On May 24, 1848, he was appointed deputy 
postmaster under Dr. Bickford and served 
one term. He married Elizabeth, the 
daughter of Solon Cook, who with two daughters 
survive him. The latter are Miss M. E. Barber, 
who conducts a studio in Syracuse, taking high 
rank among the artists and art patrons of that city, 
and Mrs. Alice B. Robinson, who resides with her 
mother in Camden, devoting much of her time to 
miniature painting for which she obtains the 



K. 




E. J. CASTLE. 



B. J. CASTLE'S GROCERY. 



[Seesk. passe 111. 



'GRIP'S" HISTOEIOAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



113 




Huested, Photo. 



CHAKLES P. POND. 



greater share of her patronage in the cities of this 
state. At the time of his death, June 2, 1895, Mr. 
Barber was in active trade, although 72 years old. 
His funeral in the prayer room of the church, was 
largely attended, the casket, in accordance with 
his known wishes, being placed where for many 
years he had been a conspicuous figure at devo- 
tional exercises. 

Charles Putnum Pond, the leading architect 
and contract. buUder in Camden, has designed and 
construded some of the finest re.sidences in the 
village, besides numerous other pretty homes. 
Diu'iug the building seasons lie has given e n- 
ployment to a conside fable number of workmen. 
In footing up the money put into buildings which 
he has erected during the past ten years he 
reaches an aggregate of alioitt .f;50,000. Mr. Pond 
is also a wood carver in which he has turned out 
excellent work. Among the residences he has 
constructed which are 
shown in this work, are 
Attorney GeneralDavies', 
page 40; L. P. Havi- 
land's, page 90; ex-Super- 
visor W. S. Peck's, 
page 88; Charles McCar- 
thy's, page 79, and his 
own on this page. For 
the last ten years he has 
made a specialty of 
artistic designing and 
building as weU as the 
construction of jjiazzas, 
porte co-cheres, stair 
cases, book cases, mantels 
and ornamental fixtures 
and additions to fine 
residences. Mr. Pond 
was born February 9. 
1857, on the Pond home- 
stead on Mexico street 
which his great grand- Borrowed Ph.jti 



father, Bartholomew Pond, carved out of the wild- 
erness. Amos P. Pond, his father, was a builder 
as was also Col. Richard Emijoy, his maternal 
grandfather, by whom he was adopted on the 
death of his mother, Olaiissa R. Empey, which 
occurred when he was two years old. He lived 
with Col. Empey's family at the Empey home- 
stead, on Emjiey avenue, until 1886, when he mar- 
ried Miss Lizzie E. Keating and moved to his pre- 
sent home — delightfully situated house and 
grounds at the foot of Mt. Parnassus in the north- 
ern suburbs of the viQage. They have four chil- 
dren, Douglass, Gordon, Richard and Clarisssa. 
At 16 years of age Mr. Pond began work as a car- 
penter. Evincing a taste for designing, at which 
he spent all of his .spare hours with promising re- 
sults, he later on obtained the opportunity to take 
a course in architectui-e at Albany. Since then 
his whole time, covering the period of more than 
twenty -five years, has been devoted to the occu- 
pation which he has made a study as well as a 
trade. Mr. Pond has gained some renown 
among poultry fanciers as the originator of the 
Buff Wyandotte fowls, known all over this country, 
Canada and England, and is a active member of 
a club bearing that name, composed of two hun- 
dred members from various .sections of the state. 

Camden, How Situated. — The queen village 
of Oneida county is situated in the north-western 
corner of the county and joins Oswego county. 
The town of Florence is on the north-east and 
Annsville on the east. Little River divides it on 
the south from Vienna. The west branch of Fish 
Creek and Mad River are its principal streams. 
They unite below the village and empty into 
Oneida lake. The village is nearly level The 
soil is sandy loam in some jjlaces; gravelly and 
stony in others. Seldom can be found a more 
beautiful village with its magnificent shade trees 
of maple, comfoi table homes and Avell kept lawns 
stirrounding them. 

Bridges, Longest. — Montreal, 8,701 feet; 
Brooklyn, 5,989; Dneiper, 4,213; Havre de Grace, 
6,000; Homestead, (Pa.,) 5,300. The longest 
bridge in the world is in China. It is 23,000 feet. 




(JHAltLES p. POND'S KE.SIDENOE. 



114 



'GKIP'S" HISTOKIOAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




CHAULES HARDEN, McCounellsville. N. Y. 
Charles Harden, the supervisor from the 
town of Vienna, has for several years jjast carried 
on himbering very extensively; supplying 
his saw mill at McConnellsville with timber 
which is made into building supplies and 
excelsior. Including several pieces of land 
lying in the town of Annsville, Vienna and 
Camden, his real estate holdings aggregate 
about one thousand acres, most of which is 
woodland more or less cleared, having been 
cut down bv Mr. Harden to feed the ravenous 
maw of tlie saw mill that he himself has 
conducted for 38 years. These several 
pieces include the Abram L. Wood place, 
the original McConneU farm which he 
bought ten vears ago, and the Allen 
Nichols place, purchased during the present 
year. When he arrived in McConnellsviUe 
in 18G4, Mr. Harden expected to lie able 
to out down what available timber he had 
bought and in the course of that year have ^^^ ^ 
it sawed up in the miU which was then 
run liv Alexis Beeman. The proi>erty was owned 



by John Halstead from whom it was bought bj 
Mr. Harden, the latter taking possession in 1865. 
Large tracts of hemlock, spruce and pine were 
found to aflbrd an almost inexhaustible supply. 
So that a few years later, in 1884, Mr. Harden and 
his son started the chair factory which enabled 
them for many years to convert the timber largely 
into manufactured articles. Eleven years later,in 
189.5, however, Mr. Harden severed his connection 
with the chair factory. From the time he bought 
the mill he has made such changes as were neces- 
sary to increase its capacity and keep up with the 
times. The old antiquated wheel gave place to 
two modem turbine wheels which have a com- 
bined capacity of forty horse power; and a oii-ou- 
lar saw soon' replaced the old fashioned vertical 
saw. The jiresent capacity of the miU is for cut- 
ting up ten thousand feet 'of lumber a day. Its 
products have gone into all kinds of buildinge and 
structures, besides supplying the local demand 
for lumber as well as being shipped to other mar- 
kets. Mr. Harden has carried on building irnder 
contract to a considerable extent, having built, 
among other structm-es,highway and canal bridges. 
At the time of the construction of the old Mid- 
land, now the N. Y. O. & W. KB., Mr. Harden 





CHARLES HARDEN'S SAW MILL, McCoimcUsvi 



KLES HARDEN'S RESI UE-NTE, McConnellsviUe, N. Y. 
had the contract for building the depots along the 
line from Sidney Plains, Chenango 
county, to North Bay, Oneida, 
county — altogether about seven- 
teen of them. 

The year after he came to 
McConnellsviUe Mr. Harden built 
a home on the knoll overlooking 
the mill and stream. The house 
was burned in November, 1896, 
and so quickly was a new one con- 
structed, now the pretty and 
modern residence standing on the 
same site, that Mr. and Mrs. Har- 
den occupied it by Christmas day 
of the same yeiu-. 

Mr. Harden served the town of 
Vienna as road commissioner six 
or seven years and is now in his 
sixth year as supervisor from that 
town, being a member of the com- 
mittee which has charge of the 
repairing of the court house at 
Borne. The Harden mill is one 
of the oldest in the northern part 



le, N. Y. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



115 




Bon-owed Photo. WILLIAM E. RUSSELL'S EESIDENCE, ATest Camden, N. Y. 

of the coimty. The first mill standing on this site 

was oonstrneted in 1801 by Mr. Hammill, and 

operated by a company composed of WiUiam 

Smith, Timothy Hallstead and others. The grist 

miU across the stream, now a part of the furniture 

factory, was erected in 1801 by WiUiam Smith. 

Mr. Charles Harden was born in Verona, Oneida 
county, November 7, 1828. His father's farm laid 
between Oneida village and Dui-hamviUe. When 
he was twenty-one years old, Mr. Harden and 
John Dygert opened a bank of clay on the farm 
and for three years engaged in manufacturing 
brick. This yard was conducted for several years 
thereafter, first passing into the hands of a man 
named Hall and being afterwards conducted by 
Tibbitts. Mr. Harden boated on the canal two 
years, draAviug grain from Buti'alo to New York, 
and then located in Illinois, in 1854. Three years 
later he married Jane 
Cook, of Manteno, 111., by 
whom he had two child- 
ren, of whom one, Frank 
S. Harden, is now living. 
She died in 1863. His 
second wife was Jessie 
Neef, by whom there was 
one child, GeorgeHarden, 
a resident of McCon- 
nellsville. His preseait 
wife was Mrs. Caroline 
Lamphere, of McCon- 
nellsviUe, whom he mar- 
ried March 5, 187:2. 
During his residence in 
the west Mr. Harden 
made an overland trip to 
Colorado with a party of 
prospectors who were 
looking for gold and who 
travelled across the plains 
with oxen and wagons. 
During the time he "was 
in the west Mr. Harden 
engaged in railroading. Borrowed Photo. 



Governors of New 
York. — George Clinton, 
(Ulster Co.) elected July 
9, 1776. and April, 1801; 
John Jay (New York) 
April, 1795; MorganLewis 
(Dutchess) AprU, 1804; 
DanielD.Tonipkins(Eich- 
mond) April 1807; John 
Taylor, Lieut. -Governor 
(Albany), March 1817; 
DeWitt Clinton (New 
York) Nov. 1817, Nov. 8, 
1824; Joseph C. Yates 
(Schenectady) Nov. 6, 
1822; Nathaniel Pitcher, 
Lieut. -Gov. (Washing- 
ton) Feb. 11, 1828; Martin 
VanBuren (Columbia) 
Nov. 5, 1828; Enos T. 
Throop, Lieut. - Gov. 
(Cayuga) March 12, 1829; 
WdliamL. Marcy (Renss- 
elaer) Nov. 7, 1832; 
William H. Seward (Cay- 
uga) Nov. 7, 1838; Will- 
iam C. Bouck (Schoharie) Nov. 8, 1842; Silas 
Wright (St. Lawrence) Nov. 5, 1844; John Y'oung 
(Livingston) Nov. 3, 1846; Hamilton Fish (New 
York), Nov. 7, 1848; Washington Hunt (Niagara) 
Nov. 5, 1850; Horatio Seymour (Oneida) Nov. 2, 
1852, Nov. 4, 1862; Myron H. Clark (Ontario) 
Nov. 7, 1854;JohnA. King (Queens) Nov. 4,1856; 
Edwin D. Morgan (New York) Nov. 2, 1858; 
Reuben E. Fenton (Chautauqua) Nov. 8, 1864; 
John T. Hoffman (New York) Nov. 3, 1868; John 
A. Dix (New York) Nov. 5, 1872; Samuel J. Til- 
den (New York) Nov. 3, 1874; Lucius Robinson 
(Chemung), Nov. 7, 1876; Alonzo B. Cornell (New 
York) Nov. 4, 1879; Grover Cleveland* (Erie) Nov. 
7, 1882 ; David B.Hill,Liet. -Gov., (Chemung) Jan. 
6, 1885; elected November, 1885, and re-elected 
November 1888; Roswell P. Flower (New York) 
Nov. 3, 1891; Levi P. Morton (Dutchess) Nov. 6. 
1894; Frank S. Black (Rensselaer) Nov. 3, 1896; 




JOHN H. TAYLOR'S RESIDENCE, West Camdeu, N. Y. 



116 



'GEIP'S" HI8T0EICAL SOUVENIB OF CAMDEN. 




F. S. HARDEN, MoConueUsviUe, N. Y. 
Theodore Eoosevelt (QiTeens) Nov. 8, 1898; Ben- 
jamia D. OdeU (Orange) Nov. 6, 1900. 

♦Only governor elected to aiid occupying the 
Presidential ohaii- before the expiration of 
his term as governor. 

Frank S. Harden, the ehaii- manufac- 
turer at McCouneUs\alle, since the enterprise 
was started has doubled the capacity of the 
works and increased its output from $12,000 
the first year to approximately .$50,000 in 
1901. At first there were manufactured 
plain and inexpensive kitchen and dining 
room chairs. A year later improved styles 
were added. Four years after that, having 
increased the facilities of his ijlant by the 
erection of a building, 30x104 feet, with 
better accommodations for finishing and 
upholstering as well as to include packing 
and ware rooms and a ijrettOy finished and 
commodious office, he branched out into the 
higher priced chau-s. Since then, as new 
ideas have prompted, he has adopted patterns of 
the still more expensive kinds which now include 
fancy rockers of all descriptions with leather, cane, 



upholstered and polished wood seats. The pro- 
duct also largely comprises what is called mission 
styles, which are copied from the old Spanish mis- 
sion furnitui-e and are made with either rush or 
Spanish leather seats. On June 1, 1884, the fac- 
toi y was started by Mr. Harden and his father, the 
firm bemg Charles Haixlen & Son, who bought the 
property of N. B. Foote, of Rome, comprising j 
of an acre of land stretched along the east side of 
the river and the old grist mill liuilding that had 
stood fifty years. This was the nucleus for the 
present works. An addition to the mill 30x36 feet 
was erected, the original structure being 30x60 feet 
with three stories. The water power was all that 
could be desired. The broad, deep channel of 
Fish creek has never been known to fail, the siiii- 
ply of water being more than is required in the 
driest of seasons. Five years after begmning to 
manufacture, a second addition of three stories, 
30x36 feet, was erected, the big main building for 
the office and finishing departments having been 
constructed the previous year. In 1894 the steam 
plant consisting of a 60 horse power boiler, used 
for heating and for drying and bending, was put 
in. The next year, 'January, 1895, the partner- 
ship between father and son was dissolved, the 
former continuing thereafter to run the saw mill 








F. S. HARDENS FURNITURE FACTORY, McConneUsvilk-, N. Y. 



y. HARDEN'S RESIDENCE. McConuellsvllle, N. Y. 

on the opposite side of the river and leaving Mr. 
Frank S. Harden the sole jn-oprietor of the chaii' 
works. With two main liuildmgs and additions 
comprising twelve floors 
and aggregating a floor 
space of over 21,000 
square feet, besides the 
engine house and dry 
kiln, the latter having the 
capacity for holding from 
8,000 to 10,000 feet of 
lumber this is one of the 
most sisacioiis chau- man- 
ufacturing plants in the 
t-ounty. Most of the 
time it gives employment 
to thirty-five people, who 
with then- families con- 
stitute a material part of 
the poxiulation of McCon- 
nellsviUe. Its products 
are sold to dealers 
through agents in the 
eastern markets. Twice 
a year, in January and 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



117 




Aboiit this time a school 
honse Avas built upon 
what is now the village 
park — then a swampy 
piece of land covered 
with stumps. Near the 
site of the present Pen- 
field & Stone mill, as early 
as 1795, a saw mill was 
built by Jesse Cui-tiss. 
From that time to the 
present this part of the 



liorrowud I'liotii. S. I.. SMITHS RESIDENCE, West Caindcn, N. Y 

July, Mr. Harden places a large number of sam- 
ples on exhibition in New York, and while orders 
are usually taken at that time, the trade has to be 
seen afterwards. Until the partnership was dis- 
solved—at the time the plant tm-ned out cheap 
chairs— the saw mill supplied a great deal of the 
lumber that was used. But since higher priced 
chau's are being made most of the lumber is the 
kind that is piu-chased in other markets. Frank 
S. Harden was born at Peotone, 111., Sept. 1, 1858, 
and was but three years old when his parents 
moved east to make theii- home in Oneida. Their 
coming to McConnells^-ille was in 1864, when he 
was four years old. His father having bought the 
saw mill there, his son's earUer life was 



village has been a busy 
one. The first religious 
society, the Fii-st Church 
of Christ (Congrega- 
tional), was formed in 
1798. Dr.JoelKathburn 
was Camden's pioneer 
physician, coming to the 
new settlement about 
1,S( II . Judge Israel Stod- 
dard was the first perma- 
nent lawyer. He came 
from Connecticut in 1798 
on horseback, the mode of 
traveling in those times. 
A lirick kiln was in operation as early as 1801. 
The first tavern was liuilt by Henian Bymgton 
in 1816. The same year a Masonic lodge was or- 
ganized. The first postmaster and merchant was 
Timothy Wood, who was also the first justice of 
the peace, the courts being held in the rooms of 
his home. He was here as early as 1801. Earlier 
than 1842 a woolen factory was in fuU operation. 
In 1832 a foundry was established at the foot of 
Third street. In 1838 a planing mUl was domg a 
thrivmg business. In 1822 a cloth dressing and 
carding estabhshment (near the present F. H. Co- 
nant's & Son's chair factory) was in full operation. 
Richard Empey had a gi'ist mill in this vicinity, 



On Sept. 19, 1882, he 
Chrestien of McCon- 



spent in the mill, 
married Olive M 
nellsville. 

History of Camden.— In 1794 Cam- 
den was a part of the town of Mexico and 
not until 1799 was it set apart to become 
a town of itself. Samuel Royce was one 
of the earhest pioneers, removing here 
from Clinton, N. Y., in 1794, He pur- 
chased 5,000 acres of land from one 
John Murray for the consideration of 
£4,000. It was a portion of what was 
the Roosevelt purchase while this part 
of New York state was in Herkimer 
county. The Royce home, situated at 
the head of Main street, was a rude hiit 
built of logs in the forest. In this 
structure was held the first town meeting, 
in 1799. The settlement of the town 
was slow, most of the earhest settlers 
comuig from Connecticut on foot or with 
ox teams. During the war of the Revolu- 
tion a Connecticut regiment was stationed 
at Fort Stanwix (now Rome) and many 
of these patriots, after the close of the 
war, came a few miles north to make 
hou'ies for themselves in this locality. 
Owing to the increase of the population 
a school was opened as early as 1800. 




Borrowed Plioto. A. OSBORN'S RESIDENCE, West Camden, N. Y. 



118 



'GEIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Borrowed Photos. 

MRS. SAKAH SNOW. 
C. F. KENDALL. 



FRANCIS SNOW. 
MRS. LOIS H. KENDALL 



In 1834 the village 
of 1842 was an ini- 



also a saw mill, prior to 1854. 
was incori)orated. The year 
portant one as it witnessed the e.stablishment of 
the Camden Gazette, a weekly paper. Its editor 
was E. C. Hatten. In 1866 was organized a 
ladies' literary society called "Tlie Coralline So- 
ciety." In 1861 a tire 
ben was haiug in the old 
town hall. Since 1856 
nearly the entire business 
portion of Main street 
has been rebuilt, having 
been destroyed by fire. 
The Camden knitting- 
mill was started in 1879. 
The Camden water works 
were established by the 
corporation in 1886. 

Credit must be given 
the ladies who compiled 
the Pioneer History of 
Camden for dates and 
facts contained in the 
foregoing article. Their 
work of two years, with- 
out compensation, is of 
untold value to posterity. 

Ho-sv to Keep Butter 
Sweet. — "Eat it," was 
the rajjly a Schoharie 
farmer received to an in- 
quiry accompanied Ijy 
ten dollars. Burrowed Phofo. 



Charles F. Kendall, who was for several 
years connected with the Camden Knitting- 
Co. , as salesman, and during the last few 
years of his life as partner, was born in 
Dorchester, Mass., Feb. 5, 1856. When 
fifteen years of age he went into a luiitting 
mill as a workman, and although a mere 
boy, obtained such kno\\' ledge of the work 
as proved, later on, of practical value to him. 
It was in 1878, at the time that Frisbie & 
Stansfield established the Imitting mills in 
this \-iIlage, that they through the channels 
usual in such cases, found Mr. Kendall in 
Boston and secured his services as their- 
salesman. Th^y had heard favorable reports 
of his ability to sell goods and he came to 
them with a flattering introduction. Dur- 
ing the twenty years following, uji to the 
time of his death, which occurred Jan. 9, 
1898, he proved his capacity as a .salesman 
with profit both to himself and his em- 
ployers. Extending his acquaintanceship 
all over the country, where his business 
trips were taken, observing carefully the 
demands of the trade, which enabled him 
to suggest from time to time the several 
lines that it appeared to him desuable to 
put on the market and keeping in close 
touch with what opposition miUs were doing- 
he became a finished salesman. The fact 
that -^x-hen Frisbie & Stiin.sfield, in February, 
1891, re-organized as the Camden Knitting 
Co. , they accepted him as a member of the 
company, is evidence of the high value they 
placed upon his ser"\dces. Prior to that and 
before he came to Camden, he had had a 
brief experience in conducting a mill at 
Lakeport, N. H., wdth ofHces in Boston. 
But he was only a part owner and the enter- 
prise did not last long. At the time Frisbie 
& Stansfield bought the Costello tannery property, 
they formed a co-partner- hip with Mr. Kendall, 
outside of the manufacturing business, under the 
firm name of C. F. Kendall & Co., to conduct a 




MRS. LOIS H. KENDALL'S RESIDENCE. 



'GEIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



119 




Borrowed Cut. 



MAIN AND MEXICO STREETS, 186' 



jobbing trade which continued until the re-organ- 
ization of the knitting com]>any which has ah-eady 
Tieen mentioned. Mr. Kendall was greatly be- 
loved by all who knew him, especially his feUow 
townsmen. He was frank and open, detesting 
both hypocricy and unfair dealings. Whatever 
lie had to say was stated ui plain language and 
directly to the point. On Jan. 27, 18S8, he mar- 
ried Lois H., the daughter of Francis Snow, who 
bore him two children, Lois Marjorie, now eleven 
years old, and Charles Hallet, a year younger. 
Dearly attached to his family, he made for them a 
nice home on Second street, and he looked for- 
ward to the time, as he often said, when his busi- 



ness would permit him to 
spend more of his time 
at his own fireside. Al- 
though tall and fine look- 
ing, possessing a flgiu'e 
that was commanding m 
appearance and apparent- 
ly robust, he did not 
have a strong constitu- 
tion. He had never been 
laid up with sickness, but 
he suftered from poor 
health and had been 
advised by his physicians 
that he was constantly 
in danger from heart 
trouble, the insidious 
disease which terminated 
in his sudden death while 
at .sujaper in the Burnet 
House, Cincinnati. But 
he possessed indomitalile 
energy and an non will, 
so he stuck to his duties, 
hoping that he might 
conquor the functional 
weakness and sjjan the 
period of business activ- 
ity which lay between him and the life at home he 
had long looked forward to. One trait of his char- 
acter deserves mention before closing. His was a 
generous, open handed natiu'e. In no deserving- 
cause was a demand upon his purse repulsed. An 
incident which was not learned until after his 
death illustrates his generosity. While in a crowd 
on a street of Chicago where a salvation army 
squad was seeking contributions to pay for din- 
ners for the poor, and where Mr. Kendall and a 
friend had paused for the moment as they were 
jjassing, he di'ew a coin from his jjocket and 
flipped it over the heads of those in front of him 
into the hat which was extended towards him. A 




Huested, Photo. OFFICERS MT. PARNASSUS COUNCIL, NO. 1180, ROYAL ARCANUM, 1901. [See sk. p. 81. 
1, E. L. Soper, 3, R. C. Kuapp, 3, F. B. HarriiiKton, 4, B. H. Stone, .5, E. W. Fish, 15, John G. Jeffrey. 7. Georyc J. 
Skinner, 8, R. R. Cook, 9, Christian Fouser, 10, Georg-e B. Doty, 11, W. B. Curtiss, 13, E. C. Case, 13, W. E. Stone, U, 
J. N. Nichols. 



120 



"GEIP'S" HI8T0KICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




HEV. KICHARD ABBOTT, 
gleam of light on the coin disclosed to him and 
his friend, after it had left his hand, that he had 
thrown a t\Yenty dollar gold piece. "I thought 
it was a silver dollar," said he to his companion 
in explanation of such a unu.sually large contribu- 
tion. "It doesn't matter. It will buy more din- 
ners for the poor. I am not sorry I gave it. " 

The \-illage of Camden was shocked on that 
Monday morning that the news of his death 
reached there. His remains anived on Tuesday 
and the funeral was held Thiu-sday. The mills 
and business places were aU closed" during 
the entii-e day of the services. The whole 
village seemed to have turned out with re- 
spect for his memory. Many there were 
present who felt they had lost a personal 
friend. 

Francis Snow, born at Boston, Mass., of 
Mayflower ancestry, was a descendant of 
Nicholas Snow, who came to America in the 
ship, Ann, in 1627. Nicholas married Con- 
stance, daughter of Steven Hopkins, who 
was a signer of the compact. Hon. Nicholas 
Snow was the founder of Eastham, Maiss. 
Prancis Snow came to Camden in 18i2 and 
was engaged in active busines.s there some 
fifty years. At one time he was in company 
w-ith J. D. Cavarly in the drv goods and 
clothing busmess. He married Miss Sarah 
Johnson, a most estimable lady who died 
June 17, 1894. Five children were bom to 
them of whom there were Marion, Jennie 
Lois and William. A daughter died voung! 
The only one living in Camden is Lois, who 
married Mr. C. F. Kendall. Mr. Snow 
resides with this daughter. 

Presbyterian Church. — On July 2.5, 
1867, th^•ty-t^^-o memliers of the "Union 
Congregational church" under the care of 
the Pi-esbytery of Utica, asked and received 
certificates of dismission with the expressed 
view of forming with others a Presbvterian 
church in Camden, and aljout tha"t time 
commenced worship in Curtiss hall,Kev Sel- 



den Haines of Eome, preaching to them with 
Ealph L. Howell, as superintendent of the Sunday 
school. On September 17 the First Presbyterian 
society of Camden was organized by the election 
of the following as trustees: JohnLambie, Lucius 
B. Goodyear. James Stark, Giles S. Wetmore and 
John G. Dorrance. The following became trus- 
tees in due course of annual elections: Silas 
Frazee, Robert Eobotham, George Swanson, Jacob 
More, James Lambie, Daniel G Dorrance, Jr., 
and Walter C. Stone. John Lambie was iM-esi- 
dent of the board from the beginning until his 
sudden death December 1, 1875. WiUiard J. 
Fnsbie was the first clerk and treasurer of the so- 
ciety. His immediate successors were Philemon 
L. Hoadley, Egbert More and George H. Smith. 
On the Lord's day, September 29, the First 
Presbyterian church of Camden, N. Y. , was con- 
stituted of twenty -seven of tliose holding certifi- 
cates for the purpose, the Rev. Selden Haines offi- 
ciating. On October 9 it was received under the 
care of the Presbytery, thus restoring to its roll of 
churches the name "Camden" that an hour or two 
before had been regi-etfuUv dropped upon notice 
being received that the l)odv it had represented 
"had voted to withdraw from Presbytery with the 
view of retm-uing to an associational connection." 
The first ruling eiders of this church were Horatio 
G. Torbei-t, M. D., who died in office October i, 
18(59, and Philetus W. Laney who also served un- 
til his death. On March 18, 1868, Messrs. Has- 
tings F. Curtiss and Franklin F. Fifield were 
added to the board and the term-service system 
was adopted. A full term was two years, the body 
being divided into two classes. On April 1, 1895, 
the term was extended to three years and the num- 
ber of classes to three. The following have been 
members of this board: Egbert More, Samuel G. 
McKillii) and Thomas B. Norton. There are now 




PKESBYTEKIAX CHURCH. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



121 




Huested, Photo. H. G. DUBOIS, it. D. 

six ruling elders: James Stark, Wm. Swanson, 
Daniel Dunton, A. H. Smith, M. D., W. C. Stone 
iind George W. Dana. 

The early growth in church membershiiJ was 
gradual, the accessions for the iirst fifteen vears 
being as follows: 49, 31, 36, 1.5, 16, 5, 6, 11, 1,5, 
15, 2, 5, 16, 11, 10; a total of 236. The church is 
in a flourishing condition under the isastorate of 
the Rev. Richard Aliliott, who has served the 
church during the past seven years. The present 
ofiicial board of trustees is as follows: L. P. 
Havihind, Hon. J. C. Davies, W. C. Stone, W. 
H. Dorranoe, C. J. Williams, Andrew Craig and 
I. D. West. The pastors in their order of ser- 
vice: Rev. (later Rev. Dr.) Selden Haines, the 
first three mouths; Rev. E. N. Manlev, from Jan. 
15, 1868, to April 13, 1886; Rev. Albert W. AUen, 
July 1, 1886, to April 14, 1890; Rev. Geo. Be- 
naugh, July 1, 1890, to Nov. 9, 1891; Rev. C. L. 
Patchell, for a few weeks from Jan. 11, 1892: Rev. 
Wesley W. Cole, Jan. 9, 1893, until Oct. 29, 1894; 
Rev. Richard Abl )ott from 
May 1, 1895— still the 
pastor. 

The Ladies Aid society 
is a most efficient and 
indiisti'ious organization 
and under its officers and 
executive committee it 
does most effective work 
for the general good of 
the church. Its officers 
are: President, Mrs. 
Lucius B. Goodyear; Vice 
President, Mrs. James 
Stark; Secretary - Treas- 
urer, Mrs. C. J.WiUiams. 

The Rev. Richard Ab- 
1 )ott, the present jiastor of 
the First Presbyterian 
churcli, was born and edu- 
cated in Maine. At the 
outbreak of the civil war 
while yet a lad he enlisted 
in tiie Seventeenth Skinner Photo. 



Regiment, Maine Volunteers, and served nearly 
three years being discharged at the end of the war. 
During his ai'my experience he was in seventeen 
1 lattles and skirmishes, was taken prisoner by the 
rebel forces at the battle of Chancellorsville, Va. , 
and was confined in the famous Libby prison at 
Richmond, Va. He was paroled and exchanged 
— among the last released from rebel 
prisons until the close of the war. Returning to 
his regiment after his exchange he continued with 
it taking part in the seige and capture of Peters- 
burg, Va., and the final .surrender of Leeat Appo- 
matox coiu't house. On his return to civil life he 
was engaged for a time in business, but feeling a 
strong call to the ministry he prejjared himself for 
that calling and after a most exhaustive and thor- 
ough examination he was licensed to i^reach and 
ordained to the ministry by Troy Presbytery of 
New York. For some years he was in charge of 
the Old Scotch Presbyterian church in Glens 
Falls, N. Y., under the care of the Home Mission- 
ary Society of the Presbyterian church. In 1895 
he received a unanimous call to the pastorate of 
the First Presbyterian. 

Hira,m Getman DuBois, M. D., was born in 
Norway, Herkimer county, N. Y., Feb. 17, 1837. 
When twelve years of age he removed with his 
parents to East Florence, Oneida county, N. Y. , 
returning the two following winters to attend 
school at his old home. The next four years of 
his hfe was sjient at home farming and logging, 
without the privilege of schooling. In 1856 he 
attended the fall term of the Camden Union Fx-ee 
school. In 1857 he attended the fall term at the 
Whitestown seminary and taught a district school 
the following winter, working on his father's farm 
the next summer. In the fall of 1858 he attended 
the academy m Watertown, N. Y'"., and taught 
school the following five successive wuiters. In 
1859 or early in 186t) he commenced the study of 
medicine, it l)eing certified to by the late Dr. H. 
W. Leonard, then of Florence, N. Y. In 1861 he 
attended a spring course of lectures at Harvard 
Medical college, Boston. Sickness prevented at- 
tending the full course. In 1862 he attended the 
spring course of the Albany Medical college, at the 
close of which he was oft'ered a position in the 




DK. H. G. DUBOIS' RESIDENCE. 



122 



"GBIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIB OF CAMDEN. 




Borrowed Photo. .\LEXANDER FINDLAY. 

army by tlie late Professor Quackenbusb, then 
sui-geon general of the state, but bis health would 
not permit of aooeiDtance. In the fall of 1862 he 
opened an office at East Florence, N. Y. , and com- 
menced the practice of medicine as an under 
graduate which he continued with the interim of 
teaching until the faU of 186.5 when he was ad- 
mitted to the medical department of the Univer- 
sity of Bnfl'alo from which he was graduated the 
following spring and at once commenced the prac- 
tice of medicine in Taberg, N. Y. He remained 
there in practice between three and four years, 
moving to Camden May 28, 1869, where he has 
remained in active practice since. He joined the 
Oneida County Medical society in 1867. Soon 
after, he was elected a delegate from that society 
to the New York State Medical society serving 
four years and being made ehgible to pennauent 
membershiiJ. He was 
elected a permanent 
member of the society in 
1876 and was made a re- 
tired permanent mem- 
ber in 1900. He has 
served four times as a 
delegate to the American 
Medical association, once 
represented the New 
York State Medical soci- 
ety to the Michigan 
State Medical society and 
was elected a delegate to 
the Canadian Medical 
association from NeA\ 
York State Medical socie- 
ty. He served as vice 
president of Oneida 
County Medical society 
one year and as president 
in 1875. He has served 
Oneida county as coroner 
one term and is a demo- 
crat of the Jeffersonian 
type. He has been twice 
married; first to the 



daughter of the late Hon. Ealph Fowler of Fow- 
lervUle, Michigan, in 1880, who died in 1891, and 
in 1892 to Miss Mowers, of Camden, N. Y., who 
has made for them both a pleasant home at No. 
55 Miner avenue. Dr. DuBois was a school trus- 
tes 16 years and has been a Mason 30 years. 

Alexander Findlay in May, 1893, came to 
Camden from Dulutli, Minn., where for two years 
in company with his brother, James J., he had 
engaged in veterinary practice. In the summer 
of 1896 he constructed a brick building on the 
rear of a Main street lot he had purchased, which 
he calls the veterinary hospital and which he" 
equipped with more complete apparatus for use 
in his business than it is possible to find in the 
service of any other veterinarian in this locality. 
Not even in Utica, with perhajis an exception, or 
Eome, he says, is there a structure built and 
equipped expressly for the care of domestic ani- 
mals, such as he has raised and fitted up here. 
That his efforts to accomplish what he undertakes 
are appreciated is shown by the fact that his call- 
ing circuit extends into Lewis and Oswego coun- 
ties. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd 
Fellows' lodges in Camden, occupying the posi- 
tion of Noble Grand in the latter order. He has 
been a member of the village board of health. On 
Nov. 18, 1896 he married LiUiau Macauley by 
whom there are two children, a boy four yeai'S 
and a girl one year old. 

Mr. Fiu<llay was born on a farm near Aberdeen, 
Scotland, Ajiril 25, 1862, and received a common 
school education. In comjiany with his parents, 
he arrived at Quebec, July 9, 1883. One year 
was spent in Bichmond, Province of Quebec, and 
two years near Lancaster, Glencarry Co., Ont. 
In 1886 he went to Toronto where he took a 
course in the Ontario Veterinary College from 
which he was graduated in 1891, the year in which 
he joined his brother, who is also a veterinarian, 
at Duluth. Mr. Findlay 's i^arents, who came to 
Camden two years after he did, are comfortably 
situated (m a farm near the village. 




Borrowed Photo. 



ALEXANUElf FIXDLAY'fi VETEUIXAKY HOSPITAL. 



'GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



123 




Old Pictures. CHAUNCEY W. McCALL. 

STEPHEN S. McCALL. JAMES P. McCALL 

Chauncey W. McCall was born lu Watertown, 
Ct., in 1803. He learned the tanners' and shoe- 
makers' trade of Mr. Whitney in Litchtield, Ct. , 
and in 1824 came to Camden, for some years run- 
ning a tannery situated north-east of F. H. Co- 
nant's Sons' chair factory and a shoe shop which 
stood near the tannery. In 1826 he married 
Ehoda Sherman, of Litchfield, Ct., and then 
bought land on the west side of Mam street, also 
■erecting a house on the corner of Main and Mex- 
ico streets. This he subsequently sold, building a 
■small cottage farther south on Main street where 
his first wife died in 1842, leaving two children, 
JamesP. McCall, now of Chattanoga, Tenn., where 
he is engaged as a broker, and Mrs. Frances P. 
Nichols, of No. 25 Second street, Camden. On 
April 24, 1842, Mr. McCall married Mrs. Bailey. 
He sold his home on Main street to Mr. Bacon and 
l:iought the house situated on the corner of Miner 
■avenue and Third street, which Mr. P. Phelps 
built for him. In comi^any with Mr. Stewart he 
opened a shoe store situ- 
.ated on the east side of 
Main street. Mr. McCaU 
■died of typhoid fever, 
Nov. 5, 1853, leaving a 
■wife and five children, viz : 
■James P. McCall, Frances 
B. Nichols, Maryette M. 
Stephen S. and Joanna J. 
McCall. Stephen S. Mc- 
Call learned the canning 
lousiness of Mr. Edget. 
He was married to Emma 
Peck, Jan. 19, 1872. He 
ibuilt a factory on Mr. 
Peck's farm which w;is 
then said to be the finest 
in the state. His first 
l^artner was H. H. Cook, 
of New York City. Then 
the firm was McCall, Cook 



& Moor. In 1878 McCaU Brothers took the 
plant and ran it until 1879, when the firm 
became McCall & Leggett. After that year 
Mr. McCall went west. At one time he had 
seven factories in operation. Finally he 
was placed in a sanitarium in Michigan 
where he had a stroke of palsy. From that 
time his case was pronounced incurable. 
His lirother took him to his home in Chatta- 
nooga, where he received the tender, loving 
care of the entii'e family. He became help- 
less, still he seemed to appreciate every act 
of kindness until the last stroke which oc- 
curred Feb. 10, 1897. He is buried, in 
Bloomington, HI, His wdfe, Maryette M., 
died .lune 7, 1900, at her home in Taberg, of 
a stroke of palsy. 

The State Excise Department often 
receives queer and absurd requests. One 
lady writes to know if there is no way to 
stop a neighbor from shaving his friends in 
the front dooryard under a tree on Sunday. 
Another writer inquires if the law wdl per- 
mit a man to drink whiskey in a blacksmith 
shop. The following is an accur-ate copy of 
a letter received by the Commissioner: 
"Dear Sik — I now rite you these few lines 
to In-form you that such a woman, the name 
of Mary Scots and Joseph Trespass sells beers 
and everj' thing and every day and the havant got 
no lisons the maik trobel every day in the house 
the police man dont car becos the boss of this plase 
treates him this plase lives in crothon utson new 
york this fello that maiks the complant lives up at 
the corry [quarry]." 

Balloon "Voyages. — The high altitude of 34,- 
400 feet (about 6^ mUes), was reached by Drs. 
Berden and Quering, in an ascension at Berlin. 
At 33,()00 feet lioth men became uucoucious, a 
condition in which they lingered three-quarters of 
an hour. At 3,280 feet they heard the cries of 
geese and lowing of cattle. At 20,000 feet the 
whistle of a locomotive was audible. The cold 
had then become so severe that they had to put on 
furs, 12,400 feet being the altitude where 
the meroiiry registered at freezing point. At 30,- 
000 feet they resorted to artificial inhalation, using 
the newly invented thermophor. Gleisher and 
Coxwell are said to have sailed as high as 3G,000 
or 37,000 feet. 




Old Pictures. 



S. S. McCALL'S CANNING FACTOKY. 



124 



'GKIP'S" HISTOBIOAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




REV. ELLIOTT A. BOYLE. 

The First Congregational Church of Cam- 
den is one of the most historic orgauizatious of the 
vilhige, it haying been organized one year previous 
to the organization of the town. On February 19, 
1798, at Paris Hill, now in Oneida county, Ben- 
jamin Barnes, Jemima, his wife, Benjamin Barnes, 
Jr. , Philip Barnes and Laura, his wife, Marshall 
Mii'iam, Noah Tuttleand Thankful, his wife, being 
al)Out to move to the place now known as Camden, 
formed a chiu'ch 
organization under 
the direction and 
guidance of then- 
pastor, Kev.Eliph- 
alet Steel. These 
men and women 
were descendants 
of the Pilgrims and 
richly endowed 
with their piety 

The first sermon 
Xn'eached in the 

new settlement at 

Camden was by the 

Bev. Joshua John- 
son of Redfield. 

Public worship was 

first held in a log 

house. In 1807 

the Fu'st Congre- 
gational church 

society built a 

meeting house 

where the present 

edifice now stands, 

56x44 feet,' which 

was furnished with 

rough benches and 

a temporary puljiit, 

with no means of 

warming the house. 

On October 16, 

1809, they extend- 
ed a call to the 

Eev.Ebenezer Lea- 
venworth which 

was accepted. Dui'- 



ing his ministry over sixty were added to the 
church. He was dismissed October 18, 1813, at 
his own request. In December, 1809, Bartholo- 
mew Pond, Abel Collins, EHhu Curtiss and Jesse 
Curtiss, with theu- wives, all of Camden, conveyed 
l)y deed to Hiram Byington, Israel Stoddard, 
Reuben OsViorn, Elihu Curtiss and Ehsha Curtiss, 
trustees of the First Congregational chiu'ch society, 
aliout three and three-foui'ths acres of land, in- 
cluding ground on which the church stands, to be 
held by the society which they represented and to 
be controlled by theii' successors in office. There 
were no means devised for warming the house. 
The women still carried foot stoves which were 
replenished with coals from the fire places of the 
neighboring houses. In February, 1817, the Rev. 
Henry Smith, of Durham, N. H., was called with 
a promised salary of six hundred dollai'S and a set- 
tlement of six hundi'ed doUars more, i. e., $600 
were to be expended in a house and land and pre- 
sented to the pastor, which was done. This house, 
always known as the "Priest Smith house," occu- 
pied the land now owned by Mr. L. P. Haviland 
and upon which he has I'ecently erected a fine 
residence. Dui'ing Mr. Smith's pastorate the 
membership was increased from one to six hun- 
dred. The plan of seUiug or renting pews was 
inaiigurated in 1818 and in 1824 choir singing was 
introduced, while instrumental music had lieen at 
least attempted in the use of the bass viol. Diir- 
ing the same year the first Sunday school was or- 
ganized and a chmrch bell was pvu'chased. The 
arrival of the bell in town was an occasion of much 
festivity, everybody being anxious to see and hear 




,J, 



Borrowed Cut. 



FIKST CONGREGATIONAL CHUKCH. 



'GKIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



125 




OLD TOWN HALL. OLD METHODIST CHUHCH AND PARSONAGE 

it. On Jnly 29, 1828, Mr. Smitli died after an iU- 
ness of only ten days, sincerely mourned by the 
whole community. It is said by Mrs. Charlotte 
Stoddai'd that ' 'the bell was first toUed for a death 
when Mr. Smith died." This practice was con- 
tinued for many yeai's. After the death of Mr. 
Smith the chiu'ch was without a j)aster for about 
one year diu'ing which time it was sujipHed by the 
Rev. Herman Norton and Lewis H. Loss. On 
November 11, 1829, Mr. Loss was called and or- 
dained as pastor and at the close of the year he 
asked for dismissal, which was rehictantly granted. 
Then came as pastors Rev. John Burton, two 
years. Rev. John Gray, six months. Rev. WiUiam 
Lusk, installed Feb. 19, 1831, one year and a half, 
followed by William Fuller and JohnCross as tem- 
poi-ary supi^lies for a year and a half. In 1886 the 
meeting house was greatly altered and refurnished. 
The square pews were taken out and the seats were 
built in slips facing the pulpit, each with a door. 
The chou' was in the gallery facing the pulpit. 
When the congi'egation arose during the siugmg 
they would deliberately turn and face the choir. 
The custom was changed at the request of the 
Rev. George B. Rowley.. In 1837ihe-t.ru,steeswere 
requested to furnish""one large stove and pipe and 
also to secure them with sheet u'on.'" A call was 
now extended to 
the Rev. John Bar- 
ton, who was suc- 
ceeded by the 
Rev. R. R. Kh-k, 
installed Oct. 7, 
184.5. In Septem- 
lier, 1849, he was 
dismissed at his 
own request. The 
Rev. E. G. Town- 
send of Sacketts 
Harbor, followed 
by the Rev. H. H. 
Morgan and sub- 
sequently the Rev. 
Henry Bridge sup- 
plied the pulpit, 
each two years. 
The Rev. Mr. 
PoweU succeeded 
the latter for a 
few months. From 
July 1, 18.59, to 
July 1, 1861, Rev. 
George B. Rowley 
was stated supply, Bon-owfd Cut. 



followed by Rev. W. S. 
Franklin, who was the 
regular xiastor from Octo- 
l)er'31, 1861, to May 11, 
1867. On the 22nd of 
June, 1867, the church 
edifice was entu-ely de- 
stroyed by fire. A month 
later about forty persons 
withdrew from the church 
to form a Presbyterian 
church. In less than one 
year and a half from the 
burning of the old meet- 
ing house, during which 
time services were held in 
Curtiss hall and the old 
Wesleyan chiu'ch, a new 
brick edifice, costing over .f20, 000, stood in its place 
supplied with an organ costing $2,500. Groimd 
was broken Aug. 7, 1867, and the corner stone was 
laid Oct. 2, the Rev. S. S. A. Greely, of Oswego, 
dehvering the address. The first service was held 
in the chapel on February 22, 1868. The build- 
ing was completed in Octol)er, 1868, and dedicated 
in January, 1869. From May, 1867, to October, 
1868, the church was without a pastor. During a 
portion of this time Mr. A. H. Bradford, then a 
student in Aulau-n seminary, supplied the pulpit. 
(He is at present a very influential pastor in Mont- 
clair, N. J.) He was succeeded by the Rev. 
Ethan Curtis of WiUiams college and Andover 
seminarv. Mr. Curtis wa.s ordained and installed 
Oct. 11, 1868, and served the church 19 years. 
During that time there were added to the church 
231 members. On June 9, 1869, he brought to 
Camden his bride. Miss Maria Howard, of Hart- 
ford, Ct. Mrs. Cm-tis died very suddenly on Feb. 
28, 1880. On April 16, 1875, the trustees of the 
Fii-st Congregational church leased unto the trus- 
tees of Camden village the south park "for and 
during the • term of fifty years, to have the right 
and privilege of beautifying said gTonnds for the 
lienefit of the pubhc.'' " Mr. Curtiss was followed 
bv the Rev. M. L. Dalton, who served from April 




OLD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 



126 



'GRIP'S" HISTOEIC.iL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




IIEV. B. N. MANLEY. 

1, 188S to April 1, 1891, The Rev. Eohert Tuft, 
-n-ho was pastor from June, 1891, to April, 1892, 
witlidrew to enter tlie Episcopalian ministry. 
Then came Rev. W. F. Berger, October, 1892, to 
May, 1895, followed the ensuing November by the 
Rev. Edward Evans, of Rochdale, Lancashue, 
England, who, after a pastorate of five and a haH 
years left Camden to accept a call to the Congre- 
gational chiu-ch in Foxboro, Mass, During his 
ministry the one hundredth anniversary of the 
church, 1798-1898, was observed with appropriate 
services. Mr. B. L. Osborne read a very interest- 
ing historical sketch of the church prepared by 
liimself, from which much contained in this brief 
sketch was collected. Following Mr. Evans' de- 
parture and until the arrival ofRev.A.EUiottBoyle, 
ofSoranton,Pa.,April 5, to accept a unanimoris call, 
the pulpit was supplied by a committee. The fol- 
lowing are the names of the deacons from 1809 to 
1891 : Abner Matthews, David Osliorne, Jesse 
Curtiss, Amlirose Curtiss, Ashbel Upson, Billi\ais 
Pond, Erastus Upson, Leverett Brvaut, Bennett 
Cobb, Lvman Tuttle, Uriah Hill, LentM. Upson, 
Roswell "Ballard, Horatio G. Torl:)ert, Leverett 
Bryant, (re-elected), William C. Carman, Joseph 
Stark, John M. Young, E. J. Nelson. Rowland 
Harding, John E. Ross, S. P. Bryant, Joseph 
Psiero and Ebenezer G. Stevens. 

Rev. Elliott A. Bovle was born in Kimberhn, 
Boon county, Ind., May 19, 1872. His academic 
education was acquired' in the Southern Kansas 
academy. Later he studied in Olympia College 
and Puget Sound University. In 1893 he entered 
the Ohio Wesylan University, and subsequently 
completed a course in the Nation.al University, 
where he received the degree of A. B. His theo- 
logical training was dii'ected by President Angel, 
of Ann Arbor, and President Sperry, of Olivet, 
Mich. He is also a graduate from King's College 
of Elocution and Oratory at Pittsbui-g, Pa. Un- 
der the management of the Western Star Lecture 
Bureau he has occupied the lecture platform. His 
first pastorate was in Clare, Mich., from which 
place he went to Scranton, Pa., about three years 



ago, where he was ordained Oct. 31, 1900. It was 
there he accepted the call of the Fii'st Congrega- 
tional church of Camden. 

Elizur Newell Manley, a son of Rev. George 
Manley, from Western Massachusetts, was born 
Nov. 20, 1826. Reared on a farm with the ad- 
vantages of district, select and academic schools, 
he was duly graduated from WiUiams coUege in 
1856, and from Auburn Theological Seminary in 
1859. His forty years of service in the gospel 
ministry, including two years of vacations because 
of illness, comprised live fields, viz: Oakfield, 
N. Y., 18.58-1862; BooneviUe, N. Y., 1863-1866; 
Elba, N. Y., 1867; Camden, N. Y., 1868-1886; 
Oakfield,N. Y,, 1887-1895; Boston, Mass., as assist- 
ant pastor, 1895-1898, from whence he returned 
to Camden to reside. For a period of thu'teen 
years jMr. Manley was the Stated Clerk of the 
Synod of Utica. The closing seven weeks of 1864 
he served the soldiers for the Union under the 
Christian Commission at Point Rocks, Va. Mr. 
and Mrs. Manley were married in 1858. They 
have two daughters and seven grandchildren. 

Rev. Horace M. Danforth was born in Fort 
Coving-ton, N. Y., in 182(). His early days were 
spent on a farm and atieniling school at the Fort 
Covington academy. Closing his school days at 
Gouverneur seminary he entered the ministry in 
the Black River conference (now Northern New 
York) of the Methodist Episcopal church, in 
which he spent forty -four years. His first field 
of labor was at Waddington, N. Y., he serving 
nearly the full term in twelve of the churches 
within the bounds of the conference, two years as 
presiding elder of Rome district and six years on 
the Oswego district. After the first few ye.ars he 
was sent to some of the larger and imiiortant 
fields, where the work was hard and the responsi- 
bility great. In 1870 he came from Trinity church 
in Oswego, N. Y., to Camden, remaining here 
three years. Years of pleasure and profit he found 
with Rev. Mr. Manley in the Presbyterian church 




KEV. 11. M.^UANFOKTH. 



"GRIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



127 




Hiiestert, Photo. A. G. WOOD. 

and 'Kev. Mr. Curtiss in the CongregatiDnal 
cliurcli as fellow-laborers ia the gospel. After an 
absence of six years he returned to Camden where 
he found Eev. Mr. Manley still in the held ; and 
together as brothers they labored another three 
years, making six years of pastoral work iu the 
Camden church ; also serving eight years as their 
Ijresiding elder. He became strongly attached to 
the people and the place, and when poor health 
compeUed him to leave the field, he made Camden 
his home, to enjoy its l:)eauty and the pleasant 
association of the people. In 1853 he entered the 
army as Second Lieut, in the 14th Eeg. Heavy Ai-- 
tiUery. In January he was transfei-red to the 6th 
Kegiment, N. Y. V", and promoted to First Lieu- 
tenant, and soon after promoted to cajjiain of 
Company L., 6th Regi- 
ment Heavy ArtiUery, 
where he served to the 
end of the war. 

; Battles, Decisive. — 

jMaeathon, B. C, I'JO, 
Athenians defeated the 
Persians; Sxkaouse, B. 
C, 413, Syracusans de- 
feated the Athenians; 
Akbela, B. C, 331, 
Macedonians and Greeks 
defeated the Persians; 
Mbtaubus, B. C, 207, 
Romans defeated the 
Carthagenians; Phiuppi, 
B. C, 4'i, Octavius and 
Antony defeated Brutus 
and Cassius; AcTroM (sea) 
B. C, 31, the Roman 
imperialists under Oc- 
tavius defeated the naval 
forces of Antony and 
Cleopatra; Lutzbn, 1632, 
which gave religious lib- 
erty to Germany; Cha- 



lons, 451, confederates defeated the Huns; Touks, 
732, Christians defeated the Saracens; Hastings, 
1066, William, the conqueror, commanding the 
Normans defeated the English; defeat of the Span- 
ish Armada in the English channel by the Eng- 
lish in 1.588; Blenheim, 1704, English under Marl- 
borough defeated the French and Bavarians un- 
der Marshall Tallard; Piiltowa, 1709, Peter the 
Great, of Russia, defeated Charles XII of Sweden ; 
Saratoga, 1777, victory of Gates over Bui'goyne; 
Valmy, 1792, Prussians, Austrians and Hess'ians 
under the Duke of Brunswick defeated an attempt 
to invade France by the French under Du- 
mouriez; Watekloo, 1815, Russians, Austrians, 
Prussians and English under Duke of Wellington 
defeated the French under Napoleon ; Tkafalgar 
(sea) 1805, English under Lord Nelson defeated 
the French and Spanish ; Appomattox, 1865, the 
Union armies under Grant defeated the confeder- 
ates under Lee; Manilla, 1898, (sea) the Ameri- 
can war vessels under Dewey sunk the Spanish 
fleet under Admiral Montojo. 

Augustus G. Wood was born in Camden in 
1837. After attending the village schools he 
learned the machinists' trade in the foundry and 
machine shop of his father, George W. Wood, who 
was- also born in Camden in the year of 1803. A 
co-i3artnership was formed by George W. Wood 
and A. G. Wood in 1858, under the firm name of 
G. W. Wood & Son, iron founders and machinists, 
which was continued until 1867, when George W. 
Wood retu-ed from the business and a brother,. 
Henry D. Wood, succeeded him, the firm then 
being known as Wood Brothers, who carried on 
the business until 1881 when W. G. Percival was 
made partner, giving to the firm the name of 
Wood Brothers & Percival. In 1883 Henry D. 
Wood died. Later the business was carried on by 
Wood & Percival untU 1890, when A. G. Wood 
went out of business on account of his health and, 
sold his interest to his brother, DeWitt T. Wood. 
Mr. A. G Wood took an active intei-est m the 
Camden village waterworks and located the reser- 




Borrowed, Photo. 



A. G. WOOD'S RESIDEX(_'K. 



128 



'GRIP'S" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 




partnership with G. A. Healy in the drug and 
printing business which was continued for five 
years. In 1881 he was aj^pointed to a position in 
the railway mail service which he held about a year 
when he was appointed postmaster at WiUiams- 
town, N. Y. During the four years that he was 
postmaster he commenced the manufacture of 
postoffiee equipments, and at tlie expu'ation of 
his term of office, in the summer of 1886, removed 
to Camden, wliere a new factory had been built 
especially for his hue of work. " In 1890 he sold 



H nested, Photo. T. A. FAHNSWORTH. 

voir on Wolcott Hill. He has been a trustee of 
Forest Park cemetery for nearly a quai'ter of a 
centiuy and was one of those who were interested 
in promoting Forest Park. When the building of 
the Elmira, Cortland & Northern railroad was con- 
templated, he was one of the committee to buy 
the right of way through the farms in the town of 
Camden. 

Therou A. Farnsworth was boru in Hermon, 
St. Lawrence county, N. Y., Sept. 13, 1851. He 
w-as educated in the common schools of his native 
town and at LowvOle academy. He commenced 
his business hfe in 1871 liy learning the jirinters' 
trade at Lowville, after which he worked in Eome 
until 1874 when he returned to Hermon and 
started the first newspaper there — "The Union" — 
which was published until the year following, 
when the entire business portion of the village 
was destroyed by fire. In the fall of 1875 he 
moved to Williamstown, where he formed a co- 





Bon-owed Photo. T. A. FAKNSWORTH'S RESIDENCE, 



Hiie.'ited, Photo. ALMON M. FARNSWORTH. 
his business to the Corbin Cabruet Lock Co., who 
he induced to locate here, and for seven and one- 
half years carried on the tbii-d largest in- 
dustry of the town, and during which time he was 
the sole manager of then- works. Wlien the Cor- 
l)in works were moved to New Britain in 1897, he 
accepted a position with the Yale & Tov.-ae Lock 
Co., as travehng salesman of postoffiee fixtures. 
At the present time he is the general eastern agent 
for the Signal Mail Box Company, of Joliet, lU. 
Since residing in Camden he has 
taken an active iuterest in all pub- 
lic aflau-s, es25eciaUy in vUlage 
corporation matters. He was the 
first repubhcan president of the 
village to be elected on a strictly 
party ticket, holding the office 
three years, and a member of the 
board of trustees for four years. 
Dm-ing his administration many 
changes from the old time way of 
doing business were made, 'and 
the improved conditions of the 
streets, sidewalks and parks tu'e 
lasting monuments of his eiforts. 
In the Masonic order he belongs 
to Philanthrojiic Lodge, F. & A. 
IM., Darius Chapter, E. A. M., 
Camden, and is a Sir Knight 
the Eome Commandery. He 
also a member of the I. O. O. 
and K. P. lodges in Camden. On 
Dec. 23, 1874, he married Fontella 
S. Healy, of Hermon. Thev have 
two children, Almon M. and Fon- 
teUa. Their beautiful residence at 
No. 30 Fourth street, was built 
m 1893. 



of 
of 
is 
F. 



^'GRIP'S" HISTOEIOAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



129 




Hiiested, Photo. WILLIAM D. TOWSLEY, M. D. 

Almon M. Farnsworth was born in Williams- 
town, N. Y., July 16, 1877. In the fall of 1886 he 
accompanied his parents to Camden where he at- 
tended the Camden Union school and academy. 
At eighteen years of age, after completing his 
education, he started in the printing business for 
himself in the Barnes block. After one year in 
business Mr. Farnsworth found it necessary to 
double the capacity of his ofiice and by strict at- 
tenion to details he has steadily increased his 
business until now he has a thoroughly modern 
office adapted for a -ndde range of work. In ad- 
dition to his local work he has built up a consid- 
erable trade for advertising specialties through- 
out Central and Northern New York, and does 
an extensive mail order Ijusiness in church and 
society printing. On 
Oct. 18, 1900, Mr Farns- 
worth was married to 
Miss Florence Geniveve 
Low. He is a member 
and officer of Philan- 
thropic Lodge, No. 164, 
F. & A. M. 

Camden Inventors. 

— Alexander Morton, the 
inventor of "Morton's 
celebrated gold pen, "who 
acquu-ed a large fortune 
from it and James Mor- 
ton, his brother and suc- 
cessor to the world-ex- 
tended business, lived in 
Camden when boys. O. 
P. Loomis, electrical 
expert and inventor and 
member of Institute of 
Electrical Engineers, and 
Lyman Smith, inventor 
of the noted pneumatic 
grain elevator at Chicago, 
were also residents of the 
village in their early 
years. 



Or. William D. Towsley, the only son of 
Thomas J. and Phoebe M. Towsley, was bom at 
Diu-hamville, Oneida county, N. Y., Dec. 14, 
1856. The following year his jjarents moved to 
Sandy Creek, Oswego county, N. Y., where his 
childhood days were spent upon the farm and in 
the common school. The farm is now occupied 
by his father and has been for forty-four years, 
his mother having died in 1887. When seventeen 
years of age he entered the Union High school of 
Sandy Creek where he sp)ent one year, after which 
he entered the Pulaski academy, pursuing a course 
there of three years. He taught school two win- 
ters at Port Ontario, N. Y., after which he entered 
the office of Dr. Frank S. Low, of Pulaski, N. Y., 
« here he began the study of medicine. In Sej)- 
tember, 1878, he entered the University of tbecity 
of New Y'ork, from which he was gi'aduated with 
honors, March 8, 1881. He immediately began 
the jjractice of his profession at Fernwood, N. Y., 
where he practiced for six years, coming to Cam- 
den in the spring of 1887. Two years later he 
erected bis fine residence in that village at No. 
135 Main street. On April 27, 1881, he was tmited 
in marriage with Miss Jennie Calkins, the only 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Callvins, of Dex- 
ter, N. Y. They have one daughter, Alice, aged 
eleven years, and one son. DeAlton, aged five 
years. In June, 1881, he was elected a member 
of the Oswego County Medical society, and in 
Jul}', 1887, of the Oneida county society. He has 
for many years been examining iJiysician and sur- 
geon for several leading life insurance companies 
— among them the New Y'ork Life, the Mutual 
Life of New I'ork, and several others. AVhile re- 
siding at Fernwood, N. Y""., he was postmaster, 
and he also served as coroner of Oswego county. 
Dr. and Mrs. Towsley have been members of the 
M. E. church for many years. In jjolitics the 
doctor is a staunch Prohibitionist. 




Skinner, I'lioto. JJU. WILLIAM 1). T(_lWSLEY'S RESIDENCE. 



130 



'GRIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 




Huested, Photo. .JAMES STAKK. 

Governors, Colonial, New York — [Dutcli] 
Peter Miuuit, term began 1624, Woiiter Van 
Twiller 1633, William Kieft 1637, Peter Stiayve- 
sant 1647. [EngKsli] Bichard NicoUs 1664, Fran- 
cis Lovelace 1667; [Dutch] Anthony Colve 1673, 
[EngKsh] Edmond Andross 1674 and '88, Thomas 
Dongan 1683, Jacob Leisler 1689, Henry Sloughter 
1691, Bicharil Ingoldsbv 1691 and 1709, Benjamin 
Fletcher 1692, Bichard Earl of Belmont 1698, Col. 
WUliam Smith, Col. Abraham DePeyster and Col. 
Peter Schiiyler administrators of the state govern- 
ment on the death of Earl of Bellomont and ab- 
sence of the lieutenant-governor 1701, John Nau- 
fan, 1701, Lord Coruliury May 3 1702, *Lord 
Lovelace Dec. 18, 1708, Peter Schuyler, jiresideut 
Mav 6 1709, Mav 25 1709, July 21 1719, Gerardus 
Beekman president June 24 1710, Boberf Hunter 
June 14 1710, Wm. Biarnet Sept. 17 1720, *John 
Montgomerie April 1 5 
1 728, Bip Van Dam presi- 
dent Julv 1 1731, ♦Will- 



ing military governor during the war), Peter Van. 
Brugh Livingston May 23 1775. Provincial Con- 
gress (rulers) — Nathaniel WoodhuU, resident pro 
tern Aug. 28 1775, Dec. 61775, Abraham Yates, Jr., 
president pro tern Nov. 2 1775, president pro tem 
Aug 10 1776, Aug. 28, 1776, John Harding presi- 
dent pro tem Dec. 16, 1775, Peter Livingston 
Sept 26 1776, Abraham TenBroeck, March 6 1777, 
Leonard Ganesvoort, president pro tem April 18 
1777, Pierre Van Cortlandt, president council 
safety May 14 1777. 

*DK'd iu office. 

tTbis governor's name is down to this day used as a 
term of reproacli in the single county of Schoharie, 
whose foref ;itlii'vs claimed to have been treated vilely by 
him. To ii])i>ly tlic term "a Sloughter" in that county is 
regarded as a heinous insult. 

James Stark, son of John and Janet Stark, was 
born in Cumbernauld, near Glascow, Scotland, 
August 14, 1828. When five years old he came 
with the rest of his family to America in a saiHng 
vessel, the voyage occupying seven weeks. Lai^d- 
ing at New York they obtained passage on a canal 
boat which brought them to Utica, whence they 
travelled with a horse and wagon to a new home 
on a farm in Amboy, Oswego county. At the age 
of thirteen Mr. Stark went to work in the factory 
of Walcott & Campbell at the New York Mills. 
When twenty years old he entered as aioprentice 
in the blacksmith's department of a wheelwright's 
shop in Utica. Upon completing his apprentice- 
ship he went to work at his trade in Wliitesboro. 
After seven years service there he, in 1864, came 
to Camden, entering iato partnership with Chris- 
tian A. Boehm, the firm buying the John Owen's 
carriage shop on Church street, which they ran 
for seven years when Mr. Stark withdrew and pttt- 
chased the wagon and sleigh shop on Main sti-eet, 
still owned by him Irat for several years occuijied 
by his sons who continue the business. Mr. 
James Stark and Miss Sarah A. Wilson of New 
York iSIills, were married May 11, 1852. Eleven 
children— six sons and five daughters — were born 
to them. Of tbese eight. — with eighteen grand- 
children—are still living. While Mr. and Mrs. 
Stark were on a visit to their daughter in Califor- 
nia, Mrs. Stark died, November 15, 1897. She 



iam Crosby Aiig. 1 1732, 
George Clarke president 
George 



I Crosby 
,..^.orge Clai^^^ j^^. 
March 10 1736, 
Clinton Sept. 2 1743, *Sir 
Danvers Osborne, Bart., 
Oct 10 1753, James De 
Lancey Oct. 12 17 53, 
*1757, Sir Charles Hardy, 
Knt., Sept. 3 1755, Cad- 
weller Cold en president 
Aug. 4 1760 '61 '69, Bob- 
ert aionckton Oct. 26 
1761, June 14 1762, *Su- 
Henry Moore, Bart., Nov. 
13, 1765, Earl of Dun- 
more Oct. 19 1770, Will- 
iam Tryon July 9 1771, 
June 28 1775, James Bob- 
ertson (military governor 
iluring the war not recog- 
nized by the state) from 
June 28 1775 March 23 
1780, Amil-ew Elliott (act- 




Skinner, Photo. 



.JA.MES' STAKIC S RESIDENCE. 



"GBIP'S" HISTOEICAI. SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



131 




HiR-sted, Photo. JAMES W. STARK. 
was buried in the Foresf^Park cemetery in tliis 
'S'illage. On December 27, 1838, Mr. Stark mar- 
ried Mrs. Harriet Goodwin Devereanx of Syracuse. 
Mr. Stark is a ruling elder in Camden Presby- 
terian clim-cli of which he has been a member 
thirty-three years. 

Village Board of Health.— There are no 
records of the doings of the viUage Board of 
Health prior to 1893. Among the health officers 
before this date were Dr. A. H. Smith, Dr. H. G. 
DuBois and the late H. W. Leonard. In 1893 the 
Board was organized on a more systematic and 
practical i>lan. The citizens now co-operate fully 
with the Board to keep the village clean and 
healthful. The Board organized in 1893 with the 
late Dr. H. W. Leonard as health officer and 
Thomas O'Neil president, O. A. Mauzer secretary 
and Henry B. Adams as citizen member. The 
most aggi-essive fighter of this Board was President 
O'Neil. Dr. Leonard resigned in September, 
1893, and Dr. H. G. DuBois was appointed to fill 
the iinexpii-ed term. His 
administration was 
marke<l 1 ly the removal of 
the slaughter house and 
stock yards in the resi- 
dential jjart of Third 
street. In May, 1834,the 
jjersonell of the Board 
changed. Dr.C.-J.Bacon 
was appointed health 
officer and the members 
were John E. Cook pres- 
ident, G. E. Watkin 
secretary, and James 
Grossart citizen. In 1895 
the same board acted with 
the exceptioa of Alex. 
McCarthy in the place of 
G. E, Watkin. In 189(i 
the ad m i n i s t r a t i o n 
changed again and Dr.H, 
L. Borland was made 
health officer and the 



members were: President, J. A. Hull, Searetary, 
O. A. Maazer and citizen member J. E. VanDyke. 
Beginning with this year a new plan of appoint- 
ments was adopted, one for one year, one for two 
years and one for three. In 1897 the only change 
was the appointment of Charles B. Chapin in the 
place of J. E. VanDyke whose term of service 
expii-ed. Dr. Borland was contmued as health 
officer. In 1898 J. A. Hull was reappointed, as 
was also health officer Borland. Dr. Borland was 
a good worker and to his ettorts are due the fact 
that every expedient was adopted to make the drink- 
ing water as pure as possible. In 1899 there was 
a change in the health officer, Dr. J. B. Low being 
appointed. O. A. Manzer was appointed to suc- 
ceed himself. Dr. Low was also health officer in 
1900. Horace J. Eush was aijpointed to fill the 
vacancy of C. B. Chapin whose term of office had 
expii-ed, and Dr. Alexander Fiudlay to fill the 
vacancy made by J. A. Hull who moved out of 
town. In 1901 the Board was composed of Dr. 
C. W. Shaver, health officer, James Grossart 
president, O. A. Manzer secretary, and James S. 
Burrill citizen. The emoluments of the health 
officer are a fixed compensation of $50 a year 
ordinary, with extra in case of certain emergencies; 
and the members of the Board are allowed $12 
each, a yeai-. 

James W. Stark succeeded to his father's busi- 
ness in the manufacture of wagons and sleighs, 
with his brother, M. N. Stark, five years ago, the 
co-partnership between the brothers continuing 
only for three years since which time the former 
has continued it alone. Mr. James Stark at the 
time the business passed into his sons' hands, re- 
tired from active business life. For some years 
it had been carried on by J. & J. P. Owens," who 
sold out to Mr. Stark. Since then it has been ex- 
tended and several styles of vehicles added. In 
1901 Mr. James W. Stark fitted up a paint shop, 
30x80 feet, in the rear of the main building, giving 
him doulile the accommodations he formerly had. 
The facilities for repair work are better than ever 
before and anything on wheels or runners that 
modern methods have provided can be purchased, 
exchanged or fitted up at these shops, including 
light and heavy carriages, farm and road wagons, 
trucks and delivery carts, sleighs and cutters. As 
this is one of the old stands in" Camden it is widely 




SIviniier, Photr; 



.I.VMIiti W. STAIUv'S CARRIAGE REPOSITORV. 



132 



'GBIP'S" HISTORICAL, SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Borrowed Photo. 

A. W. CRAIG, POSTMASTER OF CAMDEN. 

known and lias a trade ranging to a cii'cunifeience 
of thirty miles. The largest part of the business 
however, is in lumber wagons and sleighs, which 
are sent to customers in many distant sections o^ 
the state. 

Mr. Stark was born at Whitesboro, Oneida 
county, N. Y., April 19, 18fi3. For many years 
he was employed by his father. On Aug. 4, 1887, 
he married Lena Hornung of Camden. At the 
present ^^ritrng he is jiresident of the village 
board of trustees, having at one time also served as 
viUage overseer of the poor. He is the treasurer 
of the Odd Fellows lodge in Camden and is a 
member of the Masonic order and the Knights of 
Pythias. 



A. W. Craig, the present postmaster of Camden, 
received his commission from the late president 
McKiiiley.Feb. 9, 1899, his .selection for the office 
being made in deference to the general sentiment 
of the pul ilic and because of his standing as a re- 
publican in which party he has alwaysbeen an act- 
ive worker and an organization man. His father, 
Andrew Craig, who was a native of Darvil, Ayr- 
shire, Scotland, and who came to this country 
when eighteen years old, settled upon a farm 
near the village. He became locally famous as a 
composer and pubUsher of poetry. Of the nine 
children included in his family three survive, A. 
W., Robert and David. The first named was born 
in Camden, Oct. 21, 1853. When twenty-one 
years of age he bought out Heman Snow, who was 
engaged in business in the building now occupied 
by Skinner's gallery. There for fifteen years he car- 
ried on the business and then sold oiitto Harvey 
Snow. Then for four years he conducted a livery 
on Mexico street, retiring at the end of that time 
to engage in insurance. Now lie represents the 
..Etna, Hartford, Merchants', North British and 
Imperial Fire Insarance companies, in which he 
is associated with George Skiiiner. He has also 
engaged in dealing in lumber and wood. Mr. Craig 
was married to Theresa Pierce, April 12, 1879, and 
they have two daughters, Jean and Reba. For 
many years he has Ijeen active in town and village 
affairs, having served as supervisor and town cleA, 
each two terms, justice of the peace for four years 
and water commissioner two terms. All of the 
honors that the several offices in the local masonic 
lodge could give have lieen his. He is also a 
a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Royal 
Arcanum. 

The Scriba. Patent.— On April 7, 1792, George 
Scriba ptiichased 199,135 acres of land, a portion 
of which is the town of Camden. Mr. Scriba 
received his patent in December, 1794. He had 
it surveyed and divided into 24 townships, eight 
of which are in Oneida countv. (Jeorae Scriba 




Skinner, Photos. F. S. GAMBLE'S SHOE STORE. 



FRED S. GAMBLE. 



'GRIP'S" HISTOKICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



133 




Borrowed Photo. C. C. TILLSON. 

was a wealthy HoUauder who came to this locality 
Ts-ith .$200,000 in gold with which to purchase 
land, and amassed a fortune estimated at .Sl,.500,- 
000. He built a home ior himself on the banks of 
Oneida Lake at a time when his neai-est neighbors 
were the Indians of the Six Nations. That was 
in 1794. 

Calvin Chaddock Tillson was born in Carver, 
Plymouth county, Ma.ss., May 23, 1821. He was 
the son of Isaiah and Hannah Tillson. In 1827 he 
came to Camden and lived with his uncle, Deacon 
Bennett Cobb, on the Taberg road. On June 25, 
1842, he married Jane' Eliza Franklin. After liv- 
ing here aliout one year they moved to Parish, 
Oswego county, N. Y. To them were born lour 
children, Adell, who married J. H. Eedington, 
and who resides in Parish, N. Y. ; Florence, who 
married M. J. Borless and after his death C. S. 
Wightman and who died June 4, 1886; a son, 
Charles, who died when three months old, and 
EUen, who married L. A. Fav and now resides in 
Camden. On Julv 18, 1877," Mrs. Tillson died. 



aged 53 years. Soon after her death, he came to 
Camden to live and in 1886 bought a very pretty 
little home, where he now resides with his daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Fay, who carefully administers to her 
father now 81 years old. Mr. TiUson has always 
been a great reader and converses with much in- 
terest upon matters pertaining to the past. He is 
a genial, hearty man who has many friends, and a 
good citizen who is much respected by all and who 
looks and seems much younger than he reaUy is. 

Fred Osborne, Jan. 1, 1901, bought the bicy- 
cle business of J. E. Schott. While he was .ship- 
plug clerk at F. H. Conant's Sons' furniture fac- 
tory, the position he occupied fourteen years, he 
dealt in bicycles to the extent his spare time 
permitted, so that taking up the line as a main 
venture he was, alter buying out Schott, in the 
position to largely extend the scope of the original 
business. This is the only exclusive bicycle reposi - 
tory and repair shop in the village. As an agency 
it represents the Cleveland, Imperial, Stearns and 
Tribune bicycles. Mr. Osborne is also sole agent 
in Camden for the latest wheel built for speeding 
known as the Eacycle. This he pushed for 
three years before ' leaving Conant's, and it still 
continues to be his deserving leader. Occupying 
large quarters in a building devoted whoUy 
to his purpose, Mr. Osborne has an exceed- 
ingly advantageous show room, with work shop 
in the rear equipped with the necessary tools 
and machinery. The record of his year's sales 
in new and second hand wheels for 1901 is 250. 
He also handles quite hu'gely the Edson phono- 
graphs and records. Mr. Osborne was born at 
AnnsviUe, Oneida Co., N. Y., Jan. 9, 1861. 
Coming to Camden in the fall of 1879 he entered 
the store of B. A. Curtiss and clerked there four 
and a half years. For a year and a half he was at 
Arlington, 'la., a clerk in a general store, then re- 
turning to Camden and entermg the employ of F. 
H. Conant's Sons. He married Miss Angelina L. 
Storm of Florence. He is past gnmd in the Odd 
Fellows and a trustee in the I. O. R. .VI . 

Camden Hose Co. No. 1, which is the legiti- 
mate offspring of the first hose company m the 
village, organized Aug. 20, 1841, but its present 
form of organization dates March 4, 1857, when 
the piesent by-laws were adopted by Dr. J. H. 
Tracy, F. D. Fifield and Augustus L. Stone, who 




T-EED CSEOBNE'S BICYCLE SALESROOM AND KEPAIR SHOP. 



THE RACYCLE. 



(Skinnei', Photo.; 
(From Priut.) 



134 



'GBIP'S" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Borrowed Plioto. L. STODDAKD SANFORD 
were apijointed a committee for that purpose. The 
original companT (of 1841) con.si.sted of S. B. 
Hinckley, captain of Hose Co. No. 1., with the 
following membership: Henry Bacon, Nelson F. 
Simmons, Martin H. Stevens, Samiiel B. Lobl), 
Albro Ivnapp, Geo. S. Ferriss, Nelson E. Benedict, 
Geo. W. Wood, Harvey Sweet, Albro Pheljis, Jos- 
eph J. Page, Nerritt Muuson, John A. Bettis, 
Warren Mix, Abram P. Plumb, W. W. Penfield, 
Eeuben Barlier, Hii'am Hammond, D. Connie, 
Channcey W. McCall, D. Putnam Cox. Albert 
Godfrey,' Alfred Hazen, Eanney Park. The ma- 
jority of the company as now constituted are busi- 
ness men. The officers and meml;)ers are: Fore- 
man, F A. Mann; assistant foreman, B. Tuthill; 
secretary, F. A. MoAdam; treasurer, John Pen- 
nington; H, W. Ciirtiss, Joseph P.aymond, Fred 
Anson, John H. Cook, Howard Monroe, Oscar 
Wilhams, Leon Wilhanis, Geo. Williams, LeRoy 
Ives, R. Robson, Fred Boomer, Wm. Durgan, 
Edward Secor, C!linton Phelps, LeEoy Cleveland, 
Jav Kittrick, T. D. Aird, Clinton Smith, Geo. J. 
Skinner, H. Gwyn and Charles Biedermann. 

L. Stoddard Sanford was for several years an 
active merchant and dealer in produce in Camden. 
He was born in the town of Camden, Sept. 29, 
1S33, on the old homestead on the Preston Hill 
road two lailes out of the village. Ephraim and 
Temperance Sanford, his parents, who were from 
Connecticut, Avere among the early settlers of the 
town. There were twelve children, of which the 
snljject of this sketch ■was next to the youngest, 
the oldest of whom, only, is now living, Melanthou 
D. Sanford, 87 years old, who resides on a farm 
near his father's old place on Preston H ill. Mr. 
L. S. Sanford received his education in the Cam- 
den schools and the Falley Seminary at Fulton, 
N. Y. He was for three years in a l>ank at Cin- 
cinnati, O. , of which one of his brothers was pres- 
ident, after which he lived a year at Camden, then 
returnmg to the west took np his residence at 
jNIarshaltown. la., where he was a clerk for four 
years. He then returned to Camden and clerked 
for his brother Francis for about a vear. On 



December 6, 1860, he married Frances E. Frisbie 
of this village and a year or two later opened a 
grocery store in the building now occupied by E. 
J. Castle, where he was burned out in 1864. 
Securing a place across the street he began deail- 
ing in l)utter and eggs. Mr. E. A. Harvey soon 
after became his jjartner and they jjut in a line of 
groceries. This co-partnership was terminated 
about two years afterward and for saveral years 
Mr. Sanford carried on the produce business. In 
company with Mr. Joseph Stark he was in the 
produce V)usiness several years in the Curtiss 
building. Wlien this partnership was dissolved 
Mr. Sanford started a grocery at the corner of 
South Park and Second streets, which in the 
spring of 1895 he sold out to Messrs. Hinckley & 
Barber. Mr. Sanford always had a desire to spend 
his last days doing small farming and raising fruit, 
and it was gratified. He bought a small farm near 
the village which he cultivated largely by his own 
personal eftorts. He put out a number of apple, 
cherry, pear and plum trees and currant and berry 
liushes. They were beginning to bear nicely at the 
time of his death, which occurred at his home 
on Union street where he had lived about 32 years 
and where his widow and only living child, Edith, 
now reside. Mr. Sanford was an active republican 
and favored all well disijosed idans to improve 
the village. For nine years he was member of 
the board of education and had also served as col- 
lector. In the early days of the fire department 
when the boys ran with a hand engine he was one 
of their most enthusiastic memljers. For twenty- 
one consecutive years he did hard and useful work 
in that branch of pulilic service. 

W. J. P. Van Allen, located in Camden 
for the practice of dentistry in June, 1891, upon 
his graduation at one of the best dental colleges 
in the country which occurred the same year. 
From the first his business has prosjiered and his 
practice includes the best class of patronage. Two 
years after coming to Camden he married Miss 
Lepha V. Gilroy, of Heckston, Ont., Canada, and 
as on, William Roy, and daughter, Dorrit .Frank- 




Burrowed I'hoto. W. ,1. F. VAX ALLliX. 



'GEIP'S" HISTOEIOAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



135 




fully compete with the other hotels in town. 
There was miich to be done and it was attended to 
at once, the house being fitted with closets, bath 
rooms, steam heat and electric lights. The thii-d 
floor, which was in an unfinished state when Mr. 
Roberts took the house, had to be completed, 
thereby adding several more rooms for the ac- 
commodation of guests. The office had to be re- 
fm-nished and otherwise renovated and the house 
throughout newly painted and pajjered and newly 
furnished. The second Year he was in the hotel 
Mr. Roberts spent .fl,500 in making these im- 
provements and since then a much larger sum has 
loeen swallowed up in exi^euditures, including the 
outlay of a considerable sum which he has made 
every year. Mrs. Roberts, who died in 1898, ren- 
dered her husband much assistance, devotmg her 
fullest energies toward making the cuisine of the 
house the liest that could be provided and giving it 
the high reputation it has since continued to de- 
serve. Mr. Roberts .serves his guests with game and 
brook trout in the season, making a specialty of 
game dinners. He also caters for parties. The hotel 
is a brick structure with three floors. The rooms 
are fitted uj) in good order. The halls are large 
and the sitting room on the first fioor spacious and 
comfortable. The dining room, furnished with 
large and small tables to accommodate any sized 
party, has larger seating capacity than is usually 
provided in hotels of small towns. The table ser- 
vice is complete, absolute care being observed to 
make it agreeable to the taste in every respect. 
The house is supplied with adequate accessories 
including a hvery and good stabling. In a sep- 
arate two-story building adjacent to the hotel 
which Mr. Roberts purchased for annex, there are 
rooms, all heated by steam, comfortably fur- 
nished which will accommodate fourteen gTiests. 

Enterprise Hose Co. No. 2.— In the spring of 

1887 the trustees of the vfllags decided that the 
best interests of the village demanded that anoth- 
er hose company be added to the fire department. 
Accordingly those interested in the matter met on 
or al.)out April 1, at the ofti3e of Attorney A. C. 
Woodi-ntl, whore the following inscribed their 



HiH'stcd, I'lioto. C. L. ROBERTS. 

leen, brighten theu' home. Dr. Van Allen was 
born at Mountain, Out., Canada, where he passed 
the early years of his boyhood and obtained his 
earliest edtication. Later, he attended the Mus- 
grove's Institute, Ottawa, Canada, where he was 
gTaduated in 1888. After teaching in that insti- 
tution for a time he decided to study dentistry. 
Fortunately he was able to j^repare for his life's 
work by obtaining instruction from the best insti- 
tutions. He first studied for a year in Ottawa, 
then he took a two years' course in Philadelphia, 
Pa., becoming an active member of the D. D. S. 
and the Garretsonian societies of the Philadelphia 
Dental College, and attending clinical lectiu'es at 
the Medico-Chirurgical Hasijitsil in the sessions of 
1890 and '91. His graduation from the Philadel- 
phia Dental College was with honors after taking 
a full course in lectures 
and study. 

Cyrus L. Roberts, 

the i^roisrietor of the 
Commercial House, one 
of the leading hotels in 
Camden, came to this 
village from McConnels- 
ville, where he had been 
conducting a re-taurant, 
and took possession of the 
ijropertv under lease, 
April '19, 1890. The 
l)ufldiug was then owned 
by Mrs. Olden, but as an 
hotel it was considerably 
run down. In the fall of 
1890, Mr. Roberts pur- 
chased the property, and 
with that enterprise 
which a natural hotel 
man would display, 
proceeded to make such 
improvements and ad- 
ditions as would place 
the bu.siness on a footing 
where it could success- Uorrowed Photo. COMMERCIAL HOTEL, C. L. ROBERTS, Proi). 




136 



•GBIP'S" HISTOBIOAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Borrowed I'liolo. 

ANSON GATES OLMSTEAD. 

names as charter members of the new company : 
J. 0. McDonald, Henry Clark, W. H. Eowell, 
Albert Orr, B. O. Stone, Charles Snow, A. W. 
Craig, 0. W. Graves, H. B. Snow, B. Gardner, 
R. Boyd and J. K. Littler. The charter which 
was issned to them at the time of their organiza- 
tion allowed them a membership of seventeen 
men. No subsequent meetings were held by the 
comjiany untU the arrival of then' ai:iparatus on 
Sept. 1, on the evening of which day they met at 
the engine house and elected their first officers as 
follows: Foreman, J. C. McDonald; Fh-st Assis- 
tant, C. W. Graves; Second Assistant, B. Boyd; 
Secretary, J. K. Littler; Treasui'er, A. W. Craig. 
A committee composed of B. D. Stone, C. W. 
Graves and A. W. Craig was appointed by the 
foreman to draft l:)y-laws for the company. It was 
also decided to call the company Camden Hose 
No. 2. The first alarm to which they 
responded was on Jan. 4, 1888, and the 
promptness with which they reached the 
fire and the efficiency of their work were 
very creditable. At the regular- meeting- 
held on Aug. 5, 1889, by a unanimous vote 
the name of the company was changed to 
Enterprise Hose No. 2. Diiring the fifteen 
years which they have existed the com- 
Ijany has responded to about 60 fires. 
The present membershii) is twenty-seven. 
The officers elected at the last annual elec- 
tion for the present year are: Foreman, 
Clarence Moses; First Assistant, Milo 
Turner; Second Assistant, Gordon Eoberts; 
Secretary, Hope Philj)ot; Treasurer, A. G. 
Parke; trustees, W. B. Smith, Otis Fuller, 
and Freeman Schott. 



Commissioners of Canal Fund. — This 
body compi-iscs the Lieutenant-Governor, 
Secretary of State, Comptroller, State Treas- 
urer and Attorney General. As the name 
implies, it controls the canal fund. 



Anson Gates Olmstead came to Camden in 
the spring of 1811, liringing his wife and two chil- 
dren with him from Sandy Creek together -with 
their- effects on a lumber wagon, and driving- 
through in spite of ice and snow which made 
traveling extremely uncomfortable and greatly 
impeded then- progress. After some adventures 
they reached the village and unloaded their goods 
in Truman Spencer's building then known as the 
Exchange. In the fall of 1847 he purchased of 
Lynns Stevens the lot on Main street where the 
following spring he built the large residence which 
was his home irntLl his death and is still the home 
of his widow. It was the first brick structure 
erected in the village and on that account his 
neighbors joined with him in a pubhc ceremony 
in placing the first brick. The same year 
Phelps & Matoon, contractors, began building the 
B., W. & O. B. B., trains on which were run be- 
tween Borne and Bichland the fall of the next year 
(1849). The plank road was then constructed be- 
tween Bome and Oswego. Mr. Olmstead, who 
was ever wide awake to the need of pulilic im- 
in-ovement, was always in symjjathy wiih any pro- 
ject that promised to make the vOlage grow. 
When with his family and chattels he arrived in 
town he found Artemus and George Trowbridge 
and Mr. Jamison doing liusiness at the head of 
Main street, a locality now wholly occupied with 
handsome residences. Jefierson Colton was mine 
host at the public house on the present site of the 
Presbyterian church; Orville and Bradford Hinck- 
ley had a store where the opera house now stands; 
Truman Spencer, a hat factory in the rear of the 
Exchange liuUding; .J. D. Cavarly, a store on the 
northwest corner of Main and Mexico streets; 
Messrs. Dayton & Pettis, shoe shojis filled with 
workmen; H. J. Miner, general store on the 
northeast corner of Main street and M ner avenue; 
Martin H. Stevens, cabinet shop; George W. 
Wood and Albro Phelps, foundry and m.achine 
shop at I he foot of Mechanic street; General Ly- 
man Curtiss, flouring mill; Thomas D. Penfie'ld 
and John F. Mix, merchants. The practicing 
physicians were Drs. Torbert and Ely. Alexander 
Kilpatrick taught the "lower" district school in a 
building where Mr. L. P. Haviland's residence 
now stands. After the disastrous tire of 1872, 




SliiluuT, I'lmlo. 

MRS. A. G. OLMSTEAUS KESIUBNL'E, binlt 



ISIS. 



"GBIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



137 




Boi-i-owed Photo. D, E. KENNEDY, 
which was stopped in its raging course by the 
brick -walls of Mr. Olmstead's residence, he and 
Jairns Munger drew ujd an amendment to the vil- 
lage charter, which was at once made a law by the 
legislature, providing for established fire limits, 
Avhioh resulted in the erection, thereafter, of sub- 
stantial buildings. Mr. Olmstead, who for a long 
time was justice of the peace and had also served 
as collector, was the first few years of his residence 
in Camden engaged in buying and selling produce. 
In 1856 he bought the general store of J. Wiggins 
and in connection with his i^roduce business car- 
ried on trade in a buUding at the southwest corner 
of Main and Mexico streets. He afterwards locat- 
ed his store in the Cavarly block and still later in 
the Barnes block, where in 1869 or '70 he sold out 
to his son, F. W. Olmstead and Henry M. Mea- 
cham, who conducted the business two years when 
Meacham sold out to his partner. Two years 
later Job Batchelor bought a half 
interest, retiring three years after- 
wards. In February, 1885, F. W. 
■Ohnstead sold out to W. D. Olm- 
stead and Herbert P. Soper. The 
latter died in the spring of 1889, 
and in June of that year F. W. 
Olmstead and George C. Weber 
hought the stock and carried on 
lousiness until C. J. Durr finally 
•succeeded Weljer. In 1892 Mr. 
Olmstead sold out to C. J. Durr 
ct Co. Mr. F. W. Olmstead, from 
whom many of these facts are 
gathered, is now a resident of 
Pomona, Cal. After seUiug out 
to his son Mr. Olmstead became 
interested in a paper mill at 
Pulaski, but was there only a few 
months. Meeting with a severe 
accident he was unable thereafter 
to engage in active business life. 
;Mr. A. G. Olmstead at one time 
manufactured clothing and diu'ing ciuii.in, I'liutn. 



the war was one of Camden's most e.\ten- 
sive tradesmen. On Jan. 1, 1839, he married Al- 
myra Plumley of Sandy Creek, by whom he had 
four children, Fayette W., Maronette P., Mary 
and Francis. In 1856 he married Miss Martha F. 
Cropsey of Pulaski, by whom there were two 
children, William and George Olmstead. Mrs. 
A. G. Olmstead, who still fives in Camden, was 
Miss Melinda Lathers to whom he was married in 
May, 1862. His death occurred in his 8ith year, 
on March 15, 1898. The funeral service was con- 
ducted at the family residence by Eev. E. H. Joy 
and Piev. Edward Evans, pastors, re.specttively, of 
the M. E. and Congregational churches. The 
1 learers were Byron A. Curtiss, John G. Dorrance, 
Adam G. Kobson and James P. Owen. Mrs. K. H. 
Pobertson, Mrs. George L. Trafi'arn, the Misses 
Eugenia Heed and Josephine Myers and F. K. 
Hynes furnished the music. 

The Hotel Kennedy at the corner of Main 
and Mexico streets, was opened in June, 1899. 
D. E. Kennedy and his wife had both had hotel 
experience. The former was a clerk in Congress 
Hall, Syracuse, for about three years, where he 
obtained a large acquaintanceship among traveling- 
men. He came to Camden in 1890. His wife, 
whom he married Oct. 16, of that year, had been 
connected with Utica Hotels. They first leased 
the big three-story brick building on the 
corner which constitutes the main jsart of the 
house. Then, jn March of the same year, they 
began to build the three story brick addition on 
Mexico street. With remarkable celerity the new 
part was completed and the hotel was then as- 
sumed to have all the necessary rooms. But in 
less than a year it was discovered that more room 
was required to accommodate the business that 
came to the ne w hotel. So he bought the build- 
ing- adjoining the annex and the three separate 
structures were connected by inside haUs, making 
the hotel in the aggregate spacious as well as com- 
fortable. In the rear of the office on the ground 
floor is the dining room which is prettUy finished 
and A\ell lighted. The table is well provided 
under 'Sivy.. Kennedy's jiersonal supervision. The 



^ft-^-^jff. ^ 









i^ 



IIUTEL KENNEDY, D. E. KENNEDY, Piop. 



138 



'GEIP'S" HI8T0BI0AL SOUVENIK OF CAMDEN. 




Borrowed Pboto. T. LLOYD THOMAS, 
guests of the house receive every personal atten- 
tion that can be expected from tlie host and 
hostess, who make it their gTeat desire to accom- 
modate their patrons in a manner that -nail induce 
them to come again. Mr. Kennedy was born in 
Annsville, the adjacent to^^^l. He was for a long- 
time connected with the firm of Conger & Son, 
large dealers in hops at Waterville, Oneida county, 
N. Y. , which for many years was his home. Going 
to Syracuse in 1888 he accepted the position of 
clerk for C. A. Nott <fe Co., proprietors of Congi-ess 
Hall in that city. After coming to Camden he 
for several years catered to the pubhc both here 
and at Eome. 



T. Liloyd Thomas, merchant and custom tailor 
on ladies' and men's garments, came to Caiuden 
in 1892 and for two years worked as a general 
hand, first for Crimmins and afterwards for Edic. 
In January-, 1895, he started in business for him- 
self, locating at No. 45 Main Street, where by 
reason of his previous e.xtended ex]jerience as a 
practical tailor, he had di-awn to his shop a trade 
which is steadily increasing. 

Mr. Thomas was born in Wales, Aug. 8, 1818, 
lieing the youngest of eleven children, all of 
whom he survives. After receiving a high school 
educalion he was apprenticed, iu 1860, in a ladies' 
and men's custom tailor shop where he served his 
employer faithfully for five years. For two years 
he worked under the instruction of the best coat 
maker and was also under instruction with experi- 
enced ladies' garment makers. He was employed 
at Pool's, London, at Coon's, Isle of Wight and in 
Liverpool, Chester and Manchester. He arrived 
in this country in 1891, coming to Camden, as has 
been stated, a year later. 

He carries a stock of foreign and domestic 
woolens and makes up the styles such as his cus- 
tomers desire. Mr. Thomas this year presented 
to the public library ten volumes of new books 
which he purchased for that purpose. 

F. E. Woodard, the Commercial House livery- 
man, located in Camden in 1895, when he made 
an exchange of business stands with Albert Durst. 
Since he was twenty years old Mr. Woodard has 
largely followed the business of matching teams 
for the city market, his first venture lieing to pick 
up hor.ses in company with Philetus Bettinger, of 
Elhsburg, N. Y. , and take them to Pittsfield, Mass. 
This continued for two or three seasons, enabling- 
him to form acquaintanceships in the east that 
have, since he has come to the vihage, jjlaced a 
f>re it manv orders in Mr. Woodard's way. Those 




Skinner Photos. 

F. E. WOODAKD. 



F. E. WOODARD'S LIVERY AND SALE STABLE. 



'GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



139 




/'*« 




BoiTowt-a Photo. STEPHEN CROMWELL. 

coming by mail are promptly attended to, many 
times necessitating a hurried journey and a trade 
or two before the order is filled. Mr. Woodard was 
liorn at Sandy Creek, Nov. 10, 1866, and when a 
boy worked at lumbering and farming. When he 
was eighteen years old his father was cripjiled, 
leaving him in charge of his business, sawing and 
marketing lumber. The year before coming to 
Camden, Nov. 22, 1894, he married Miss Nettie 
Clark, of Ellisburg. Fire which swept through 
one of his stables in this vUlage in December, 
1901, occasioned the loss of part of his vehicles. 
Since then he has put in others and in other ways 
improved liis livery. 

Stephen Cromwell, for more than forty years 
a promint^ut law3-er of Camden, was born in Car- 
lisle, Schoharie Co., N. Y., Sept. 18, 1815. With 
a limited common school educa- 
tion he left home at the age of 
seventeen to seek his fortune in 
the west and for two years was em- 
ployed on the MississiiDi^i river 
.steamboats. He sj:ient another 
two years in the south and then 
went to Ohio, where he read law 
with his brother, teaching school 
at the same time as a means of 
gaining a livelihood. He was ad- 
mitted to the Ohio bar in 1842 but 
in the following year returned to 
New York and in 1844 was ad- 
mitted to the courts of this state. 
He then located permanently in 
Camden and emered the office of 
D. Minor K. John.son, to whose 
legal business he soon succeeded. 
For more than twenty years he 
liad for his jjartner Ivors Monroe. 
Mr. Cromwell continued in the 
active practice of his profession 
until 1877 when he retired. 

He built a home on the corner 
of Main and North Park streets 
in 1860 and died there July 7, Borrowed I'l.oio. 



1895. Mr. Cromwell was a prominent member of 
the Oneida county bar and conducted an extensive 
professional business for many years. He was 
well versed in law, i^ossessed a good analytical 
mind and a wonderfully i-etentive memory; he 
was a student and a scholar and seldom lost a case 
in the appellate courts. He was blunt in argu- 
ment and of a nervous temperament and before a 
jury lacked the expression and tact which his 
talents really warranted and demanded. But as 
an office lawyer and counsellor he had no suiserior 
in the county. He won the respect and confi- 
dence of all with whom he had j^rofessional rela- 
tions and among many acquaintances was highly 
esteemed for his many excellent qiialities of head 
and heart. He was a staunch repulilican and in 
local politics became quite a prominent factor, yet 
he never sought nor had any desire for public pre- 
ferment. He served as village president and trus- 
tee and as a member of the board of education 
several years and always supported and encouraged 
every movement which promised benefit to the 
<-ommunity. He was identifled with the tanning 
industry in West Amboy, Oswego county, and 
with his son was at one time heavily interested in 
the salt and lumber business in Saginaw, Mich. 
He was also connected with the old Camden bank. 
A devoted chru-chman, he was for over forty years 
a vestryman of Trinity church in the prosperity of 
which he took great pride and was a generous con- 
tributor to its support. He gave liberally in 
money and time toward the rebuilding of the pre- 
sent edifice. He traveled extensively visiting near- 
ly every state in the union and was well informed 
on all matters of general interest. On Jan. 1, 
1845, he was married to Miss Jeannette Giflbrd, 
daughter of Elihu and sLster of H. W. Giftbrd, of 
West Camden, who bore him three children: 
James G. of Glen Ellen, Cal., WiUiam (deceased) 
and Charles who died in iufancv. She died Janu- 
ary 27, 1884. On September 12, 1887, he married 
Mrs. Susan (Brownell) Owen of Utica, who siu'- 
vives him and i-esides in the Cromwell homestead. 
His only grandson, W. H. B. Cromwell (son of 
William) resides in Cleveland, Ohio. 




THE CKOMWELL RESIDENCE. 



140 



'GRIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 



W. E. Tiffany, in 1894, erected the large, 
handsome three-story brick buikling on South 
Park street where his business is now located, and 
took possession of it in the fall of the same year-. 
The store occupies the ground floor with a work 
shop in the rear. It is 18x65 feet, including the 
shop, with high ceiling, a finely finished interior 
and has a high, Viroad show window. The shelves 
and racks are arranged so as to best display the 
goods, the principal part of which is wall paper. 
Tift'any's is the only store in the -loUage devoted 
exclusively to wall paper, it being his purpose to 
carry in stock or supply on order any design that 
the trade affords. He 'is a practical house painter, 
hardwood finisher, decorator and sign writer. His 
work in interior decorations is shown especially 
in some of the churches in the vicinity of Camden, 



he worked under instruction from Berlin. In 
1883 he returned to Camden and thereafter de- 
voted his energies to his trade, three years later, 
Dec. 22, 1886, marrying Miss Jennie Staft'ord, of 
Hion, who has borne him two children, Eva and 
Walter. 

The Fire Department.— On July 9, 1834, the 
village board voted to purchase four ladders, two 
of 25 feet and two of 14 feet, and ordered every 
householder to keep a leather bucket to be used 
in extinguishing fires. On Feb. 6, 1838, the board 
ordered the organization of a hook and lad.dei- 
company which consisted of nine men with Eich- 
ard Empey as captain. William Bird succeeded 
him four days later and reported the foUo's^'ing■ 
raster — members of the first organized fire com- 
pany in Camden: Wm. E. Paddock, John A. Bet- 




View of Building'. {Skinner.) 



TIFFANY'S W 
Mrs. W. E. 



including those at West Camden, WUhamstown, 
Eedfield and Glenmore. Durmg the present year 
he has more than ever lief ore branched out in wail 
l^aper; and is also making the framing of pictures a 
specialty. With the assistance of Mrs. Tiflany to 
care for the store trade, he is able to give personal 
attention to all work that comes to him. Mr. Tif- 
fany was born in Annsville, Oneida county, N. Y. , 
Api-il 20, 1860. After finishing his studies in 
school he taught one term. Then in company 
with his father, Leander Tiffany, engaged in can- 
ning corn, having erected and equipped a building 
for that purpose three miles north of the village. 
The plant was started in the fall of 1880. Four 
years later he turned his attention to house paint- 
ing, which resulted in his going to Utica where 



ALL PAPER STORE. 

Tiffany. (Huested.) W. E. Tiffany. (Huested.) 
View of tbe Interior. (Siiinner.) 

tis, Horace Mclntyre, Thomas DelMilt Penfield, 
Aaron Stone, Hham J. Miner, Heman Delimen, 
Cebma Leonard, J. L. Babcock. On July 13, 
1839, the town of Camden voted |250 for a hand 
fire engine. On August 20, 1841, the first hose 
company No. 1 was organized. On March 24, 
1844, the lioard voted to fine every male absentee 
from a night fire #2 and every householder who 
failed to place a light in one of his windows next 
to the street on the occasion of a night alarm, 50 
cents. The earliest records of a fire chief give the 
name of A. J. Stone, appointed in 1858, with two 
assistants. About this time two notable fires de- 
stroyed considerable property in the village, one on 
June 26, 1856, and the other on June 22, 1867. 
On Sept. 26, 1861, announcement of the hanging 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



141 




with the faculty of gaining the esteem of his 
hearers and the affection of his friends. His 
Christian philanthropy and benevolence knew no 
limit but inability to meet their demands." His 
much resjjected widow continued to reside in Cam- 
den among dear friends until her decease in 1890, 
aged 76 years. 

Martin Tipple was born in Vei'ona, Oneida 
county, N. Y., March 7, 1819, and obtained a fail- 
education for those early days. After attaining 
his majority he became much interested in iiolitics 
and held many offices, becoming a staunch repub- 



Borrowcd Photo. 

REV. 



EZRA S. SQUIER. 



of a new fire bell was made. On the same date 
the village purchased a new hand engine and 800 
feet of hose. This engine was uised until 18S7 
when it gave place to the i:)resent water system 
which was put in the previous year. 

The present officers of the department are as 
follows: 

Chief Engineer, H. W. Curtiss of Hose Co. No. 
1; Fir.st Assistant, Adelbert Percival of Rescue 
H. & L. Co. ; Second Assistant, A. G. Parke of 
Enterprise Hose Co. No. 2 ; Secretary, J. K. Lit- 
tler of Ee.seue H. & L. Co. ; Treasurer, H. L. 
Monroe of Hose Co. No. 1. 

Re\r. Ezra S. Squier was born at Bridgeport, 
Vt. , August 23, 1814, and died at Camden, N. Y. , 
March 4, 1849. He was ordained a Methodist 
Episcopal minister at Ithaca, N. Y., in 1842. In 
1839 he was united in marriage to Miss Naomi 
Coates, and to them were born five children. The 
youngest were twins who died in infancy. Helen 
M. died at 20 years of age. Mrs. Sarah E. Tipple 
and Mrs. W. H. Pilkington are living. The rec- 
oi'ds say that Mr. Squier had "an amiable disjjosi- 
tion" and "was in every way endowed by nature 




Borrowed Photo. 

MARTIN TIPPLE, 



SR. 




Borrowed Photo. 



THE TIPPLE HOME. 



lican at the ti'ne the~party was organized. He 
came to Camden in 1859 and resided here until 
his death, May 16, 1901. Two terms he held the 
office of postmaster of the town and was the pion- 
eer market gardener, having built the first green- 
house in the place. He was twice married. His 
first wife was Miss Sophronia Ladd, by whom 
there are four children, ;Mrs. E. M. Valentine, 
George L. Tipple, Mrs. D. T. Wood and Mrs. W. 
C. Stoddard. Her death occurred in 1859: In 
1860 he was united in marriage with Mi.ss Sarah 
E. Squier, of this village. 
To them were given 
four children. Rev. Ezra 
Squier Tipple of New 
York Conference, Rev. 
Bertrand M. Tipple of 
New York East Confer- 
ence, Helen M. Tipple and 
Martin Tipple. Mr. Tip- 
ple was a member of the 
Methodist church for 
sixty years and of the Ma- 
sonic order for fifty years, 
being one of the oldest 
members of Camden 
lodge. 

The Board of Trade 

of Camden is one of the 
most active of organiza- 
tions in the smaller muni- 
cipalities of the state in 
secui'ing the investment 
of capital and otherwise 
promoting the interests of 



142 



'GBIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



( 






1 


i^-^j 






\ 


W 



W. J. Eiisbie, J. G. 
P. Haviland and W. S. 



Skinner, Photos. 

C. F. WARD. MRS.- C. F. WARD. 

tlie village. Its members are a' ways ready to con- 
tribute generously for any purjjose that is plainly 
to tlie advantage of the corporate gTowth of the 
town. That a work costing as much money, time 
and intellectual effort as this Historical Souvenir 
could obtain the necessary su2:)port in a village of 
2500 population, is the best proof of the prosperity 
of the community, its enterprise and the activity 
of its Board of Trade. 

The names of the officers who constitute the 
board of five dii-ectors are as follows: 

President, I. D. West; Fii-st Vice President, 
W. I. Stoddard; Second Vice President, C. J. 
WOliams; Secretarv, E. N. Hammand; Treasurer, 
A. W. Abbott. 

Committees— Finance : 
Dorrance, A. Meeker, L 
Peck. Manufactures: B. 
A. Curtiss, G. F. Morss, 
A. H. Maloney, S. L. 
Harding and P. B. MUler. 
BaOroads: A. W. Oraig, 
W. T. Stevens, G. E. 
Watkin, R. B. Tuthill 
and W. W. Elden. In- 
sui'ance: A. C. Phelps, 
D. E. Kennedy, W. R. 
Becker, Daniel Crimmins 
and A. G.Wood. Enter- 
tainment: JohnO.Davies, 
A. C. Woodruff, G. J. 
Skinner, M. F. Simmons 
and W. C. Stone. Pub- 
lic Improvement: S. G. 
McKihip, Fletcher Snow, 
C. E. Orr, A. .J. Henrv 
and J. W. Stark. Print- 
ing: E. W. Fish, Frank 
Hynes, Frank Dorrance, 
Horace Adams and E. .J. 
Castle. 



C. F. Ward, the undertaker, started bus- 
iness for himself in Camden on the east 
side of Main street in 1890. His store, 
which was stocked largely with furniture, 
was liurned Jidy 18, 1892. On Oct. 1, 1896, 
he fitted up his present commodious quai'ters 
at the head of the west side of Main street, 
exclusively for undertaking with cabinets, 
equipments for his business as an undertaker 
and all of the necessary paraphernalia for 
trimming caskets and conducting funerals. 
Owing to an extensive bu.siness he does 
considerable driving out of town, calls com- 
ing in from Annsville, Florence and adjacent 
towns. Three years ago he accepted the 
agency for the Mutual Life Insurance Co. 
and with adequate help, especially assisted 
as he is by his wife, he has also been able 
to handle sewing machmes. Mrs. Ward 
occupies the ijosifion of being one of the 
few ladies in this state who is a practical 
embalmer and undertaker, having a state 
certificate ax hich was granted her after com- 
pleting a course of instruction and proving 
her aliility in the required manner. The 
calls received by her are therefore numerous 
as she personally attends to most of them 
where a woman's services would most 
natui'ally be desired. Her experience covers 
a period of eight years. Mr. Ward was born 
in the town of Annsville, Oneida countv, N. 
Y., Dec. 29, 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Ward ' were 
married Fell. 10, 1886. Her maidcii name was 
Alice Carlisle and her home was in Annsville. 
They moved to Camden in 1887 and, until he 
started a business of his own three years later, 
Mr. Ward was employed in the store of W. 
T. Stevens. Taking a course in embalming in the 
Champion college Mr. Ward obtained a state cer- 
tificate as an embalmer. They have one son, 
Robert. 

Early Land Buyers. — Tlie names of the 
earUest purchasers of land included in the present 
site of Camden are given in an old document now 
in the possession of Mrs. W. J. Frisbie, which 
was handed down in her father's, the Pheljis, 




SkinniT, 



Plloto. 
C. F. 



WARD'S RESIDENCE, COSTLY HEARSE AND TEAM. 



'GKIP'S" HISTOKICAIi SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



143 




Hiiested, Photo. A. H. SMITH, M. D. 

family. It is a copy of a power of attorney con- 
ferred on John W. Bloomfield of Camden who 
^•as a land agent and attorney for George Scriba, 
the patentee of a tract of Oswego and Oneida 
county lands comprising several hundreds of 
acres. By the authority of this document Mr. 
Bloomfield was authorized to deed and convey 
lands "situated in the west half of township No. 8, 
in Scriba's patent, iji,^the county of Oneida and 
state of New York"— said deeds and conveyances 
to 1)6 "agreealily to the contracts [for land] made 
with the following persons, namely: Ezra Barnes, 
Charles Carr, Aaron Mathews, Elihu Ctirtiss, Levi 
Mathews, George Stai)les, Phillip Williams, 
Pernet Parke, Thurston Fish, Henry WiUiams, 
Ephriam Wright, Erastus Devereux, Benjamin 
Woodruti', Ichabod Comstock, Abner Mathews, 
Israel Stoddard, Aaron Fargo, Isaac Cook, 
William Smith, Joel Dunbar, Clement Tayler, 
Henry Filkins, Elisaph and Abner Preston, Amaria 
Carrier, Jonathan Carrier, Oliver Case, Thomas 
Comstock, Ebenezer Cory, Pernet Stilson, Chester 
Gould and John Ely. This power of attorney was 
executed before Thomas Coojjer, Master in Chan- 
cery, Feljnrary 18, 1800, and was recorded on 
March 10th, following. It v,as signed by Isaac 
W. Bostwick clerk. The accuracy of the copy 
which was made April 3, 1848, is attested l)y 
Patrick Mahon, clerk of Oneida county. 

Albert H. Smith, M. D., is a native of Cam- 
den. He began the study of medicine with the 
late Dr. H. W. Leonard, continuing his studies in 
the medical schools of New York and graduating 
from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 
1876. The same year he was appointed one of the 
house surgeons in the Charity hospital of New- 
York with which institution he was connected for 
eighteen months. He afterward practiced for a 
time in Parish, N. Y. , removing to Camden in 
1880, where he has since practiced his profession. 
His wife was Miss Anna Laney of Camden, to 
whom he was married in 1879. 



Joseph Stark, the youngest son of John and 
Janette Home Stark, natives of Comberwauld, 
Scotland, was born March 17, 1835, in Amboy, 
Oswego county, N. Y. When he was five years of 
age, his i^arents moved to New York Mills, N. Y., 
where he remained until a yoirng man, when he 
with his parents returned to Amboy, where he 
engaged in farming. In November, 1858, he mar- 
ried Miss Helen A. Griswold, formerly of Troy, 
N. Y. To them were born two beautiful daugh- 
ters, both of whom died in their chUdhood, and 
within the same week being stricken with diph- 
theria. Soon after the death of their children he 
sold his property there and located in Camden, 
IJurchasing the residence. No. 157 Main street, 
which he now occupies. He at once engaged in 
the flour and feed business under the firm name 
of Stark & Wilson. In about two years he sold his 
interest m the busmess to the late George Swan- 
son, and immediately engaged in the produce 
business, which he has successfully canied on ever 
since. He had associated with liim at one time 
the late George Elden and later on L. S. Sanford, 
deceased. In 1882 he built the lirick store in 
which he now has an oflice, the remaining part of 
the store being occui^ied by C. O. Biederman, 
jeweler and optician. In October, 1893, Mrs. 
Stark died after an illness of several years dura- 
tion. In June, 1895, he married Mrs. Lillian H. 
Ford of this village. He has twice visited Evu'ope. 
He united with the Fii-st Congregational chiu-ch 
of Camden in 1866. He has been church treas- 
urer since 1869 and a deacon since 1870; has been 
a teacher in the Sabbath school for over thirty 
years, making it a point never to be absent unless 
circumstances compelled him to be. He has always 
been a liberal supporter of the gospel, and dee^jly 
interested in all that i^er tains to the highest good 
of the church. In j^olitics he has always been a 
staunch rei>ublican. While never aspiring to the 
notoriety of a pohtieian, he has several times 
held offices of trust in the town. For several years 
heserved as a member of the Board of Education. 



^ 












■***>- 








V 




f 


■, 




/ 





lidlTOWi'il I'll. .1(1. .TdSEPH S'l'AHK. 



144 



'GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Huested, Photo. 

ROBERT ROBERTSON. 



MRS. ROBERTSON. 



Robert Robertson, now comfortably settled 
at his home ou Masonic avenue, where he and his 
wife began housekeeping over 40 years ago, came to 
Camden in the spring of 1848, and in June of that 
year he found employment in McNamee's cooper 
shop which then stood on the corner of Miner 
avenue and Second street. Thi.? shop was one of 
the old landmarks which was eventually moved 
from there. In less than ele%-en years he had 
bought the stock and good wiU of his employer 
and moved over into a building on Mexico street 
next to McDonald's wagon shop where he carried 
ou the work for about nine years. In those days 
there were no creameries or cheese factories and as 
all of the butter that was consumed was made by 
farmers the demand for firkins made the village 
cooperage a thriving institution, and Mr. Robert- 
son made it a paying business. Finally he dis- 
jjosed of the shop to Jerry Sullivan, a Idacksmith, 
and he and his Inother went into the meat busi- 
ness on Main street which they conducted ))ut a 
short time under the name of John & Robert Roli- 
ertson. On July 2, 1860, Mr. Robertson married 
Mary Holmes of Camden. By this marriage there 
are three sous, John who is a successful i^lumber 
at Fort Plain, William a traveling salesman and 
Robert who runs a l)arber shop in Camden, and 
one daughter, Mrs. Arthur New of Canastota. 
Mr. and Sirs. Robertson have been members of the 
First Congregational church since before their 
marriage, the church of 
which he has been janitor 
for 40 years and which is 
still in his care also where 
in his younger years he 
sang in the choir. Mr. 
Robertson is the sexton 
of Park cemetery, a i:)0si- 
tion which he has held 
twenty years. 

Canals of New York — 
The first was constructed 
around the rapids at 
Little FaUs, 1796, 2;; 
miles long, and the same 
year another at German 
Flats 1| miles long. In 
1797 the Wood creek ca- 
nal was constructed, l;j 
miles long. These togeth- 
er with improvement of 



navigation in the Mohawk river cost $4.50,- 
000 and secured free navigation between 
Schenectady and Oneida lake. Gov. Clin- 
ton in his message (1791) first proposed 
these improvements, which however were 
carried out by the Western Inland Lock 
Navigation company. Mr. Weston, an Eng- 
lishman, was the engineer. Governeur Mor- 
ris first proposed a continuous canal be- 
tween Lake Erie and the Hudson river 
(1800). In 1807-8 Jesse Hawley in a series 
of articles in the Genesee Messenger urged 
the scheme. In 1808 the legislature passed 
the Joshua Foreman resolution requhing a 
joint committee to ascertain the best route. 
In 1809 James Geddes made the survey and 
Commissioners Governeur Morris, DeWitt 
Clinton, Stephen Van Rensselaer, Simeon 
DeWitt, Wm. North, Thomas Eddy and 
Peter B. Porter in 1811 reported favorably 
ujiou the route. The legislature appropriated 
.f5,000,U00. The war of 1812 delayed action for 
some years. In 1815 the legislatiire repealed the 
appropriation act. Under an act passed (1817) 
Stephen Van Rensselaer, DeWitt Clinton, Samuel 
Young, Joseph Ellicott and Myron Holley were 
named commissioners with power to construct the 
canal and borrow the necessary moans on the 
credit of the state. On July 4, 1817, ground was 
broken at Rome with great ceremony. Governor 
DeWitt Clinton presiding. In 1818 an act wa'i 
passed authorizing the construction of the Chit- 
tenango canal and a navigable feeder (Oneida). 
In October, 1819, the first section of the Erie — 
from Uticato Rome — was open for navigation and 
the Champlain that year admitted boats. The 
same year an act was passed to construct the Os- 
wego cana). In 1820 the Wood Creek, German 
Flats and Little Falls canals were transferred to 
the state for $1.50,828. The same year the first 
board of canal commissioners with salary, was 
named, viz: Messrs. Y'^ouug, Holley, Seymour and 
Bouck. In July, 1823, the canal was opened for 
navigation between Rochester and Schenectady. 
In 1824 the Chamijlain canal was completed. In 
1822 the second act for the building of the Os- 
wego canal was passed. The Erie was completed 
October, 1826, and ou November 4 of that year 
the first canal boat from Lake Erie reached New 




Sklnuev, Photo. 



ROBERT UOHEKTSON'S RESIDENCE. 



■GEIP'S" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIB OF CAJNIDEN. 



145. 




KEV. ELIAKIM STDDDAKD. 
MRS. JOAXXA KNIFFIX. 



GEORGE ST(.)DDARD 
MRS. LOIS COOK. 



York and was received with, a public celebration. 
Tlie entire cost of the Erie and Cliami3la.in canals 
was .$9, 130,000. The indebtedness was $7, 738, 000 
which was extingirislied in 1835 mainly by tolls. 
In 1827 the legislature appropriated a sum to aid 
the Delaware & Hudson caiial and in 1833 author- 
ized the construction of the Chenango canal. In 
1836 the construction of the Genesee and Black river 
canals was authorized 
and in 1838 .fl, 000, 000 
was appropriated to en- 
large the Erie. The same 
year the state loaned its 
credit to aid the Catskill 
& Canajoharie, the Au- 
Inirn & Syracuse and 
the Ithaca & Oswego rail- 
road companies. 

New York ranks first of 
all the states in the Union 
in manufactures, printing 
and pubhshing, hops, 
hay, potatoes, l:)uckwheat 
and milch cows; second 
in salt, silk goods, malt 
and distilled liquors, 
miles of railway and bar- 
ley; thii'd in agricultural 
implements, ii'on ore, 
iron and steel, oats and 
rye; foiu'th in wool. 



Rev. Eliakim Stoddard was born in 
1773. In 1801 he married Miss Lois Mat- 
hews. Theii- first home was on the site of 
the home of the late Albert Phel^js. They 
left here Irat returned about 1816, locating 
on the site of the home of the late George 
Stoddard. To them were given these chil- 
dren: Philomela, Cynthia, Polly, Ann, Is- 
rael, Flora and George. Mr. Stoddard was 
endowed by nature with gifts and gi'aces. 
He was a local preacher for many years, 
dee^Jy siiii-itual, "a friend in need and a 
friend indeed." The loving -^vife and moth- 
er was ever a heli^meet. The children grew 
to womanhood and manhood making for 
themselves a name and a place in the world. 
Mr. Stoddard performed the marriage cere- 
mony for over a thousand couples. la 
those days the fee was not always in coin. 
A load of fence raUs, a half bushel of beans 
or some other commodity was given. If it 
was money one dollar was the usual amount. 
Mrs. Stoddard died December 12, 1812, 
aged 61. Kev. Eliakim Stoddard died Feb- 
ruary 28, 1860, aged 87. They rest in 
Forest Park cemetery. 

Mr. George Stoddard, son of Bev. Elia- 
kim and Lois Stoddard, was born Septem- 
lier 6, 1823. He was married to Miss Re- 
becca Owen in 1852. They remained in 
Camden five years at which time they as- 
sumed responsibilities at Falley seminary, 
Fulton, N. Y. Five years later they re- 
turned and settled on the homestead. " Mr. 
Stoddard was ever a quiet, unassuming, con- 
scientious man. There were no children but 
the pleasant home they made for the 
great numlier of friends remains a ju-e- 
cious memory. Mr. Stoddard died January 26, 
1894. The widow remained six years in the home 
then moved into town and still lives surrounded 
by many loving friends. Mrs. ]Martin E. (Lois) 
Cook and the late Mrs. Oren H. (Joanna) Kniflen 
were grandchildren of Bev. Eliakim Stoddard. 




Bon-owed Photo. GEORGE G. STODDARD'S FORMER RESIDENCE 



lie 



'GEIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIK OF CAMDEN. 




Old Photos. 

MAKY PORTER OSBORN. 



DAVrD OSBORN 



Deacon David Osborn of Hanvmtou, Coun., 
and Esther Potter of Plymouth, Conn., were mar- 
ried Deo. 22, 1802. They passed the -n-mter at his 
father's house at Harwinton in preparation for mi- 
grating- "West.'" In the following spring, 1803, 
they came to Camden, ISl". Y., in an oxcart, located 
on the hard maple hills a mile and a half west of 
the primitive village and built a log house covered 
with hemlock bark about thu-ty rods southwest 
of the present Osborn homestead. Seven children 
were born to them. Five of them lived to years of 
matiu-ity, viz : Sherman, Lucy, David, Jr., Elam 
and Esther. A frame 
house was afterwards 
built and is now (1902) 
the John Swanson place. 

David 0.sborn,Jr. ,l)orn 
Eeb. 20, 1809, married 
Mercy D. Cobb, daughter 
of Deacon Bennett Col>b, 
April 20, 1837. To them 
was born one child, Henry 
Sherman Osborn. The 
mother died March 14, 
1812, and the father 
married, Oct. 6, 1812, for 
a second wife, Mary 
Porter, then recently 
moved to Camden from 
Taunton, Mass., with her 
mother, PoUy Lincoln 
Porter, and her brother, 
William Porter, who 
settled on what has ever 
since been known as the 
"Porter j^lace," on the 
hill jiTst east of the old 
McCall corn factory. 
From this second ma'r- 
Tiage were born three Huested, Photo, 
children— two of whom 1. B. L. Osborn, _ 

i: ^j *. 1 li. • -lames L. Osborn. .: 

lived to adult years, viz: c>sborn. 



Betsey Porter Osborn Matthewson, born 
Feb. 16, 184.5,and Benjamin Lincoln Osborn, 
born Oct. 25, 1846. David Osborn, Jr., 
huilt the present Osborn homstead in 1854. 
He devoted himself especially to frnit grow- 
ing, raising his own stock from the seed, 
and had diiring the sixties the best apple 
orchard iu the town of Camden. 

The present owner of the Osborn home- 
stead is Benj. L. Osborn, mentioned above, 
whose family group is given herewith. He 
received the common district school educa- 
tion specially excelling in elocution and 
declamation in the country spelling schools, 
spent two or three winters in the Camden 
village school, went four terms, in '67 and 
'68, to Cazenovia seminary, was princijjal of 
Fii'st ward schools in Bay City, Mich., for 
the year of '68-'9, Avas next year in Bay City 
High .school dividing his time lietw-een 
teaching and studying, and finally came 
back to Cazenovia seminary to take up a 
classical course of study. But lack of 
means compelled him to devote much of his 
time in teaching. Portions of the years 
'74 and '75 were spent at Phillips academy, 
Andover, under Prof. C. F. P. Bancroft, 
wliere by excellence in both the writing 
the dehvery of an original article on 
"Culture" the much coveted "Means" j^rize was 
won. BIr. Osborn returned to Cazenovia semi- 
nary and graduated as president of the class 
of '76. The following two years were de- 
voted by him to teaching as principal of Camden 
Union school, and some five years later he was 
again principal of the same school for three years, 
the intervening time and since lieing divided be- 
tween farm work and teaching out broken school 
years or terms in several school districts in the 
town and at West Camden. 
Lnmediately after gradiiating at Cazenovia 



and 




, Mrs. E. Lavantia Northrup Osborn, 3, Warren N. 
Lydia Osborn, 6. Russie Osborn, T. Reua Osborn, S, 



Osborn, 4, 
Charles P. 



'GKIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIB OF CAMDEN. 



147 



in '76, B. L. Osborn married E. Lavantia Nor- 
throp of Binghamton, N. Y., who had been teach- 
ing at Cincinnatus and at Binghamton. Miss 
Northmp graduated as vice president of the class 
of '74 at Cazenovia seminary in both miisical and 
Latin-scientific courses. Six children have been 
born, all of whom have lived to bless their home. 
A strenuous effort has been made to establish a 
typical American home, combining ths amenities 
of literature and manual labor, music and art with 
industrial activity. 

The old homestead farm being found best 
adapted to grass and grazing, it has gradually de- 
veloped into one of the best grass farms in this 
locality, the average hay crop per acre having 
been quadrupled in the past twenty years. The 
hve stock from this farm took more prizes one 
year during the existence of the Camden Indus- 
trial association than the live stock from any other 
one farm. The location is one of the finest over- 
looking Camden village. 



Only seven decreased from 1890 to 1900. In 
twenty years Spokane, Washington, increased 
over five thousand per cent.; Duluth, Minn., and 
Tacoma, Wash., each over three thousand per 
cent.; Seattle, Wash., and Kansas City, Kan. ^ 
each over one thousand per cent. ; Birmingham, 
Ala., over seven hundred per cent. ; Pueblo, Col., 
over six hundred per cent. ; Sioux City, la., over 
four hunih-ed per cent.; Omaha, Neb., Los An- 
geles, Cal., Saginaw City, Mich., and Lincoln, 
Neb., over three hundred per cent.; Minneapolis 
and St. Paul, Minn., Dallas and Fort Worth, 
Texas, and Butte, Mont. , over two hundred per 
cent. ; Chicago, III., Kansas City, Mo., Denver, 
Col., Portland, Ore., Des Moines, la., Salt Lake 
City, Utah, Youngstown, O., Brockton, Mass., 
Binghamton, N. Y., Johnstown, Pa., McKeesport, 
Pa., Toi^eka, Kan., Bayonue, N. J., Knoxville, 
Tenn., Chattanooga, Tenn., Canton, O., Jackson- 
ville, Fla., and Atlantic City, N. J., over one hun- 
dred per cent. 




THE OSUORN HOMESTEAD. 



Skinner, Photos. 

The Farm Residence. 
Yoke o( Prize O.ven. 

Cities, U. S. (Federal census 1900) — 159 
have an aggregate population of 19,694,625, 
classified as follows: 19, each above 200 thousand, 
aggregate 11,795,809; 19, each between 100 and 200 
thousand, aggregate 2,412,538; 40, each 50 to 100 
thousand, aggregate 2,709,388; 81, each 25 to 50 
thousand, aggregate 2,776,940. There is one city 
having over 3 miUion population; 2, each over 1 
million; 3, each over half a million; 5, each over 
three hundred thousand; 8, each over two hun- 
dred thousand; 5, each between 150,000 and 200,- 
000; 14, each between 100,000 and 150,000; 4, be- 
tween 90,000 and 100,000; 6 in the eighty thou- 
sands; 6 in the seventy thousands; 8 in the sixty 
thousands; 16 in the fifty thousands; 14 in the 
forty thousands; 43 in the thirty thousands; 24 
between 25,000 and 30,000. 

The smallest city in this fist is Jackson, Mich. 

Every one show's an increase from 1880 to 1890. 



B. L. OSBOKN', Proprietor. 
Herd ot O.xen. 

Some of tlie Dairy Herd. 

Population, villages state of New York, 5000 
and upwards, (census 1900) — Batavia 9180, Canan- 
daigua 6151, Catskill 5484, Glens Falls 12613, 
Haverstraw 5935, Herkimer 5555, Hoosick Falls 
5671, Ilion 5138, Lansingburg 12595, Maloue 5935, 
Matteawau 5807, Norwich 5766, Oueonta 7147, 
Owego 5039, Peekskdl 10358, Plattsburg 8434, 
Port Chester 7440, Port Jervis 9385, Sai-atoga 
Springs 12409, Seneca FaUs 6519, Sing Sing 7939, 
Tonawanda 7421, White Plains 7899. 

The Camden Fire of '72, in the night or early 
morning of January 4, started in John Stuart's 
shoe shop and consumed all buildings on the 
west side of Main street, from Mexico street south 
to A. G. Olinstead's brick residence. The owner 
of the latter by closing iron shutters to the win- 
dows cut ott further progress of the fire. 



148 



' 'GRIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 




Borrowed Plioto. JACOli HUSH. 

A Destructive Fire occurred Saturday, June 
22, 1867, and for a time threatened to .spread de- 
struction by means of blazing spark.s to the re- 
motest portions of the village. While the aggre- 
gate loss was not as great as in either of the fires of 
1856 or 1863, it was a more sensational fire, more 
difficult to restrain and occasioned greater sorrow, 
■consuming as it did not only the Whitney House 
(Coltou tavern) and barns which then stood on the 
west side of Main street opposite the village park 
making several people homeless, but the Trinity 
and the Congregational church Iniildmgs The fire 
broke out at 1 :3() p. m. and, by the assistance of a 
steamer brought from Rome, was subdued late in 
the afternoon. Women and children ascended to 
roofs of adjacent buildmgs to watch for indications 
of Its spreadmg. Trinity church stood to the north 
of the hotel and the Congregational church across 
the street in the park. Brands of 
fire were carried by the wind to the 
east and north. The town clock 
in the steeple of the Congregation- 
al church struck 2 just l>el'ore it 
toppled over falling to the ground 
in charred fragments. John C. 
Owen's dwelling in Second street 
a quarter of a mile distant, was de- 
stroyed, placing the north end of 
the village in great jeoiiardy but 
happily with no further disaster. 

Factory Fires,— P. & P. Cos- 
tello's tannery Inirned August 16. 
1883, when several thousand dol- 
lars worth of leather was Irarned. 
They rebuilt but soon after sold 
the property. 

Penfield & Stone's grist mill 
burned Sept.27,1882. the present 
-commodious mill stands on the 
same site. 

The Camden Knitting Co's. plant 
•on the afternoon of March 23,1893, 
was mostly destroyed by the fire jacobTush's 



which started in the Costello tannery building then 
in use by the Knittiug Co. The site was relniilt 
with large, modern buildings for the same industry. 

Jacob Rush was born in Utica, Oneida county, 
N. Y., August 20, 1828, and came to this to-mi 
with his parents when he was three years old. 
With the exception of one year, about the time he 
was eighteen years old, when he was in West- 
chester county, N. Y. , he has ever since resided 
in Camden. In early life he learned the trade of 
carpenter and joiner which he followed untn 1860, 
when he entered the .sash and blind factory and 
planing mill of Cox & Stone as partner, having 
bought a one-foui-th interest with them. At one 
time he was associated \Yith G. J. Williams in the 
same business. In 1S81 he bought out his part- 
ners and conducted the business^ilone very suc- 
cessfully for many years. Peeling that old age 
had begun to weigh rather heavily upon him he 
sold out to his two sons in 1891, although he has 
since continued to work at the factory and help 
the boys all he can. He has always been a repub- 
lican, voting with that party since' its organization 
and holdmg diflerent offices in the gift of his 
townsmen, such as collector, overseer of the poor 
and iissessor for many years, which office he now 
holds both in the town and in the vUlage, He 
was the class leader and a member of the official 
board in the Methodist church for several years, 
having united with that society in this viUaa-e in 
1856. " 

Early Academy Teachers.— Linus Sanford 
was one of the first to teach in the old academy on 
the park. Then came Thomas Seagar with a se- 
lect school about 1823-1; MissFreelove Southworth 
had a young ladies' select school; Aaron 
Matthews was a district school teacher ; Miss Flora, 
daughter of Eliakim Stoddard, taught select school 
and S. S. Sheldon pulilic school." Miss Adeline 
Pond taught in 1838 and Miss Lettice Blake.sleein 
1834. All above mentioned taught in the academy, 
also including Miss Wealthy Blakeslee, Miss Ruth 
Warner, Walter and WiUiam Jerome and Rosauna 
and Marion Reynolds. 




SASH AND BLIND FACTORY AND PLANING MILL. 



•GRIP'S" HISTOKICAL SOUVENIR OF CAMDEN. 



149 




Huested, Photo. OFFICERS CAMDEN COUNCIL, No. B.5, O. U. A. M. ^ „„,.„. 

1, M. W. Wilkinson, Councillor; 3, C. F. Ward V C.; 3, Grant H«^I'^;,'l' Gl^ ex-C.; 4, D S Wilhams, S ; 
.5 R A Ma"-ee F S.; i3, James Eaton, Sr. ex-C; 1, A. B. Gnnther, T.; 8, H. H. Chapman, Cliap., a, w. rona, 
Examiner; 10. E. .1. Castle, Inductor; 11, W. A. Rowell, I. P. 



INDEX TO "GRI 

(ExPL.\N.iTiON ot Abbreviations;;— p 
portrait; v, view; r, residence; s 
sketch.] 

Abbott's Sons, George, SO 

Abbott, L M, r 31 

Antliovs, 10.5 

liudlong, W A, 94 

lioard of Trade, p .5,3 141 

Bank, 1st Nat'l, 39 

Baldwin, Mrs Mary, 49 

Borland, Dr H L, 97 

Batchelor, Job, 110 

Bridges, Longest, 113 

Boehm Bros, lO.-i 

Barber, Mr and Mrs Quinccy, 113 

Battles. Decisive, 137 

Biedermann, C O, 37 

Bridges, Main and Me.xico Sts, v 1.5 

Curtiss, B A. 83 

Cobnrn's Orchestra, 77 

Camden Oil & Gas, 76 

Corn Canning, 74 

Colton Tavern, v 101 

Craig, A W, 133 

Catholic Church, 35 

Cromwell, Stephen, 189 

Camden Knitting Co, 47 

Camden Wood Turning, 39 

Conant, Mrs Ella M, 48 

Carroll, Geo F, .55 

Conant, F H, tiO 

Conant, E H s 00, p 03 

Costello, P C, 75 

Camden Inventors, 139 

Camden, Description, 4 

Camden, History, 117 

Cook, Mr and Mrs Solon, s HI, iJ 112 

Castle, E J, s 111, p 113 

Congresiational Chuj-ch, v 134, old,v 13 

Clerks. Village, 87 

Camden, Mow .Situated, 113 

Camden Hose Co No 1. p 13 

Cemetery, Forest Park, v 30 

Canals, 144 

Dana, G W, 95 

Dubois, Dr H G, 131 

Dorrance, J G, 38 

Dorrance, D G, 45 

Dorrance, W H ,.% Sou, 43 

Davies, J C. 40 

Dantorth, Rev H M, 130 

Daughters, A R, 49 

Dams, Mill, v 1 

Episcopal Church, 30 

Episcopal Church Choir, p 31 

Earnest AVorkers, p 08 

Epwortli League. |i33 

Eldeii's Kecollcili.ius, 43 

Enterprise llos.'Co No 3, p 13, s 13;) 

Free Methodist CInu-ch, 30 

Fifield, F F, 43 

Prisbie, W J, 40 

Frisbie, Mrs Ennua Phelps, 48 

Frazier, Di- l!ol» it r« 

Former Kesideuts Camden, 813 

Fish, E W,r9l 

T-ire Dept Hist, 140 

Findlav, Alexander, 132 

Farnsworth, T A & A M, 138 



P'S" HISTORICAL SOUVE 

Fire ot '72, 147 
(ianible Fred, 133 
Goodyear, L B, 78 
G A K, J Parson Stone Post 45, p 44 
Grange, 74 
Giles, W H, 81 

Governors ot N Y, 115; Colonial 1-30 
Gamble, Mrs Charlotte, 34. 
Harding. S L. 99 
Harvey, E A, 100 
Harden, C, 114 
Harden, F S, 110 
II nested. H R, 37 
Historical Society, p 04, s 70 
Hotels. Early. 81 
Horniing's Store, L, 87 
Ilaviland, L P. 90 
Health Board, \t 
Kendall, C F, 118 
Kennedy, D E 137 
Lakes of N Y, 101 
Ladies of Maccabees, p 103 
Ladies' Foreign Mission M E ch, 81 
Library Presidents, p 13 
JlethiKlist clnireh, 33, old v 135 
:\Ietliiidisl Ladies' Aid, .53 
Masons, Philantlu-opic No. 104, .58 
Merry-go-Roiuid, p 09 
Maloney, A H, 71 
McCarthy's Residence, Chas v i9 
Miller, P B 80 
McKillip, S G 93 
McCall, C W 133 
Manly, Rev N M 130 
Mef ker, Andrew p 19 
Manzer, O H 37 
Newspaiiers 73 
Osborne. B L 140 
5 olmstead, A G 130 
Oilil Fellows, s 78 p 85 
Oneida county 88 
OU AM, s89, pH9 
Orr & Gardner 93 
Orr & Hornung 90 
Osborn, A, rll7 
Opera House, v 10 
Osborne, Fred 133 

Population, villages 147, cities 95, 92, 
Population, Facts, 100 
Pythias, K ol. ]> 44 
pioneer Historians, p .50, s .52 
Phelps, C A & A C, .53 
Philomathic Club, p 0.5, s 79 
Penheld, T D, 00 
Pentield & Stone, 67 
Presidents, 'Village, s 75 
Peck, W S 88 
Pond, C P, 113 
Presbyterian Church, 120 
Presbyterian Endeayors, s 80 
Public Square v 17 
Park, V 18, 30, 31, 
Phelps Bridge, v 31 
Piersall, Mrs M, r28 
t;iui Vive Club p .50, s .51 
Rivers, Longest, 90 
Red Men, s 74 
Royal Templars, s 76 
Royal Arcanum, s 81, p 119 



NIR OF CAMDEN. 

Reaflels, Peter, r 101 
Russell, W E, r 115 
Rescue, H & L Co, p 13 
Roberts, C S, 135 
Itoliertson. Uoh.-rt. U4 
Rush. .hie<.li. US 
Stoddard, W 1, 98 
Supervisors, 39 
Stevens, W C, 51 
Stone, W C, 73 
Skinner, V D, 79 
Sumners, Robert, r 91 
Stone, \V E, r 93 
Salladin, N, 100 
Structures, Highest, 108 
Sneakers, H ot Rep, 1 8 
Smith, S L, r 117 
Stark, James, 130 
School, 32, their origin 
Stark, James W, 131 
Sanford, L. S, 134 
Stark, Joseph, 143 
Shaver, Dr C W, 37 
Squier, Ezra, 141 
Stoddard, Rev Eliakim, r 145 
Stoddard, liclireea, r 145 
Smith, lir A H,14:5 
Street Views, 4, 5, 8, 9, 119 
Scenery Views, 10, 20, 31 
Trowbridge, Geo, .53 
Timian's Shop, v 77 
Tuttle, Lansing, r 94 
Taylor, J H, rH5 
To'wsh-v, Dr W 1), 139 
Trusters. 19111. N'illage, 
Town Hall, 14, (old) 135 
Town Board, p 33 
Tillson, C C, m 

Thomas, T Lloyd, 138 

Titlany, W C, 140 

Tipple, Martin, 141 

Vandawalker, A H, 8:3 

Vandawalker, Gi'o, r 85 

Van Dvki' & llanimand, 97 

Van Allen, W J, 134 

West, I D, 103 

Wetmore, C A 84 
147 Water Wheel Works, 103 

Water, Largest Bodies, 103 

Wells Mfg Co, 105 

Williams, G J, 107 

Williams. Mr and Mrs D S. 109 

Woodrutt. A ('. 54 

Williams & Norton, 50 

West Camden, 09, 70 

AVomen's Missionary Pres ch, 80 

Wood, A G, 137 

Water Board, p 10 

Water S\'Stem, v 11 

Woodard, F E, 138 

Wood, W D, 38 

Ward, C P, 142 

Whist Club, 36 

W C T U, 30 

West, Mrs Harriett Allen, 49 

Woman's Home Missionary, M lich, .1 

Young, J M & Son. 104 

Yo\ing Ladies' Circle, 77 



i9u2 



ADVEETISING DEPAETMENT "GEIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIE OF CAMDEN. 




RICHARD WlLiLiIA]V[S 

MERCHANT 
TAILOR——— 

Ladies' and Gents' Garments 



Over S. L. Harding's store 



JMISS IVIARV J. ALLAN 

FASHIONABLE DRESSMAKING 
Cutting on2 Fitting a Specialty 

6 Third Street CAMDEN, N. Y. 




T. M. WOODRUFF 

Groceries, Provisions, 
Confectionery 

Cigars and Tobacco j- Hosiery and Notions 

CAMDEN, N. Y. 



FRANK A. McADAM representing northwestern mutual life ins, co. 

The only second class agent in town representing a first class company that pavs dividends an- 
nually, not asking vou to wait 20 years with a chance of losing them if voii die previous to that time 
Morethan that, this company makes the Ijest return to the policy holder' 

Kindly send me name and age and I will gladly fiu'nish you" illustrations. 



J. L. STORM 



CITY CARTING AND 
BAGGAGE TRANSFER 

AU kinds of tvuckint!' and teaniinf;' and bay"-ii'>-e 

carried to and train raiU-oad stations. 

5It>ving- Furniture etc., 

Eesidence Ki Tliird St. CAMJOEN', N. Y. 



H. B. SNOW, q7;e Ce^mden Florist 

Plants and Cut Flowers for Funerals and Reeefi- 
tiODS. Emblematic Designs a Specialty. 

Telephone Orders Proinptly Filled 

Gri'enhonse No. 2-5 Railroad Street 



FOR 



Insurance that Insures 



.GO TO. 



GEORGE J. SKIHNEI^ 



iVlain Street, Camden, IN. V. 



Old llirpe Stock Companies 



bow Plates 



